seacock

American  

[see-kok] / ˈsiˌkɒk /

noun

Nautical.

1. a valve in the hull of a vessel for admitting outside water into some part of the hull, as a ballast tank.

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seacock British  

/ ˈsiːˌkɒk /

noun

1. nautical a valve in the hull of a vessel below the water line for admitting sea water or for pumping out bilge water

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Etymology

Origin of seacock

First recorded in 1660–70; sea + cock ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seacock

Then Tuckfield opened a seacock, and the forward escape hatch began to fill with water.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I examined that boat thoroughly before we left and spotted that seacock," he says.

From Time Magazine Archive

But whenever I close a seacock, I remove the handle and hang it on the hook.

From Time Magazine Archive

One has a brass base to connect directly to a seacock, and the other has a reinforced fiberglass base with an extra outlet for a washdown pump.

From Time Magazine Archive

The fireroom is full of water; but it looks to me as though a seacock had been opened.

From Ruth Fielding Homeward Bound A Red Cross Worker's Ocean Perils by Emerson, Alice B.