Standard Lemma guide

petcock

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈpɛtkɒk/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

regulator consisting of a small cock or faucet or valve for letting out air or releasing compression or draining

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: regulator

History

Etymology

Apparently from pet + cock, because of its size.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: кран за източване (kran za iztočvane) — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Benzinhahn — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Ablaufhahn — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Ablasshahn — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Entlüftungshahn — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Entlüftungsventil — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Kühlerablasshahn — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Spülstutzen — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid
  • German: Entlastungsventil — small valve, spout, or faucet operated by hand, usually used to release pressure or drain fluid