seacock

American

[see-kok] / ˈsiˌkɒk /

noun

Nautical.

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

seacock British

/ ˈsiːˌkɒk /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of seacock

First recorded in 1660–70; sea + cock ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With the many other chores and concerns involved with such maintenance projects, it�s easy to overlook the fact that a seacock is closed when getting under way.

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

Cooling water enters through the drive rather than through a seacock.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rio also modified his pre-trip inspection, which consists of visual checks of his plumbing, belts and electrics; now, he includes periodic seacock checks.

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.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023