petcock

American  

[pet-kok] / ˈpɛtˌkɒk /

Or pet cock

noun

1. a small valve or faucet, as for draining off excess or waste material from the cylinder of a steam engine or an internal-combustion engine.

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petcock British  

/ ˈpɛtˌkɒk /

noun

1. a small valve for checking the water level in a steam boiler or draining condensed steam from the cylinder of a steam engine

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Etymology

Origin of petcock

1860–65; pet, perhaps < French pet ( see petard) + cock ¹

Example Sentences

Fig. 1Check the filter At the fuel filter/water separator, open the bowl petcock to see whether water issues forth.

From Time Magazine Archive

MISSES: The only step in the installation process that annoyed us was having to drain the fuel tank, as the kit requires you to spin your petcock 180 degrees in the tank.

From Time Magazine Archive

When the petcock is relocated, the fuel line is rerouted up and over the carburetor, making the hot start and choke knobs on the carburetor much, much easier to access.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now, make sure your fuel petcock is turned off, grab your T-handles, and remove the seat and gas tank in order to expose the valve cover on the top of your motor.

From Time Magazine Archive

With the turn of a petcock, there came another hiss.

From Beyond The Thunder by Hickey, H. B.

Related Words

• spigot
• valve