Ball cock

Ball cock
Cock Cock (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.] 1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls. [1913 Webster]

2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock. [1913 Webster]

Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous] [1913 Webster]

Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. A faucet or valve. [1913 Webster]

Note: Jonsons says, ``The handle probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason.'' Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma crit[ae] galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb. [1913 Webster]

6. The style of gnomon of a dial. --Chambers. [1913 Webster]

7. The indicator of a balance. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch. --Knight. [1913 Webster]

9. a penis. [vulgar] [PJC]

{Ball cock}. See under {Ball}.

{Chaparral cock}. See under {Chaparral}.

{Cock and bull story}, {an extravagant}, boastful story; a canard.

{Cock of the plains} (Zo["o]l.) See {Sage cock}.

{Cock of the rock} (Zo["o]l.), a South American bird ({Rupicola aurantia}) having a beautiful crest.

{Cock of the walk}, a chief or master; the hero of the hour; one who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or competitors.

{Cock of the woods}. See {Capercailzie}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ball cock — Ball Ball (b[add]l), n. [OE. bal, balle; akin to OHG. balla, palla, G. ball, Icel. b[ o]llr, ball; cf. F. balle. Cf. 1st {Bale}, n., {Pallmall}.] 1. Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe; as, a ball of twine; a ball of snow. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ball cock — ball ,cock noun count a floating ball that opens and closes a VALVE, used for controlling a water supply, for example in a toilet …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ball cock — ball′ cock n. bui hyd 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 • Etymology: 1780–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • ball cock — n. a device consisting of a valve connected by a lever to a floating ball that shuts the valve when raised and opens it when lowered, as in flush toilets …   English World dictionary

  • ball cock — noun floating ball that controls level in a water tank • Syn: ↑ballcock • Hypernyms: ↑regulator * * * noun : a float valve with a spherical float called also ball valve * * * a device for regulating the supply of water in a tank, cistern, or the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ball cock — a device for regulating the supply of water in a tank, cistern, or the like, consisting essentially of a valve connected to a hollow floating ball which by its rise or fall shuts or opens the valve. Also, ballcock. [1780 90] * * * …   Universalium

  • ball-cock — automatic valve consisting of a hollow floating ball which by its rising and falling shuts and opens the valve …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ball cock — noun Date: 1790 an automatic valve whose opening and closing are controlled by a hollow float at the end of a lever …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Cock — (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.] 1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls. [1913 Webster] 2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cock and bull story — Cock Cock (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.] 1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls. [1913 Webster] 2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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