ball cock

A self-regulating device controlling the supply of water in a tank, cistern, or toilet by means of a float connected to a valve that opens or closes with a change in water level.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ball cock

ballcock

(Mechanical Engineering) a device for regulating the flow of a liquid into a tank, cistern, etc, consisting of a floating ball mounted at one end of an arm and a valve on the other end that opens and closes as the ball falls and rises with the water level in the cistern

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ball′ cock`

a device for regulating water in a tank, consisting of a valve connected to a floating ball that by its rise or fall shuts or opens the valve.

[1780–90]

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Noun

ball cock - floating ball that controls level in a water tank

ballcock

regulator - any of various controls or devices for regulating or controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, etc.

Translations

ball cock

[ˈbɔːlˌkɒk] n → galleggiante m (in serbatoio)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in periodicals archive ?

If this doesn't work, the ball cock valve gasket may need cleaning or replacement.

Toilet tune up

On November 4, 2003, plumbing expert Colin Topp had set up a 'fault' by displacing the jacket of the tank onto the arm of the ball cock causing an overflow.

Plumber who took a leak is facing jail

The 61 year old retired fireman was fishing from a boat in a large back-eddy on the huge river, allowing a float described as being ``the size of a cistern ball cock'',carrying a 2lb carp as bait on a large sharp hook.

ANGLING: Kelly eyes a Spanish giant

The top of the toilet had blown off and the force of the blast had sent the ball cock flying out the window.

The Ferret: Jones' loo flying object

Alongtime newspaper observer once espoused a rather cynical view about editors and their knowledge of printing technologies: "Editors find it hard to change the ball cock in a toilet, let alone understand how a printing press works."