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

Related Words

• spigot
• valve