Petcock

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛtkɒk/

Definitions

1. A minor valve commonly utilized in plumbing and mechanical applications allows for the management of liquid or gas flow
2. This component functions as a control mechanism for diverting or discharging fluids in systems such as heating or automobiles
3. A small valve that regulates the flow of liquids or gases, often found in plumbing, heating, and automotive systems

Etymology: "Petcock" is a compound of "pet" and "cock," and the "pet" part is the puzzling one. In this word, "pet" most likely means small, a sense it carried in English, as in "pet" meaning a favoured or diminutive thing, and the valve is named for its modest size compared with a main stopcock. "Cock" here refers to a tap or valve, a meaning it has long held in English for devices that regulate the flow of liquid or gas. The pairing is therefore a plain descriptive compound rather than a coinage with a memorable backstory. Its earliest use and the exact date of its formation are not recorded in the source, so the word is best understood simply as a small tap, named for its size.

Synonyms: valve