Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A floating sphere, attached to a lever, that controls the level of liquid in a cistern

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

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Examples

  • Crapper, who was a plumber by trade in the 19th century, is often incorrectly credited for the invention of the flushing toilet, but put his name to a variety of lavatorial inventions, such as the ballcock.

    Tattenham Corner 2011

  • It's not like selling an overpriced ballcock assembly to some jack ass who bought the complete Time-Life Home Repair series at a yard sale.

    Archive 2009-01-11 mjs 2009

  • War reporting ain't like selling ballcock assemblies

    Archive 2009-01-11 mjs 2009

  • And here's a list of 94, with voting on which sounds dirtiest. #1: "ballcock."

    Archive 2007-02-01 Ann Althouse 2007

  • And here's a list of 94, with voting on which sounds dirtiest. #1: "ballcock."

    Words that sound dirty but aren't. Ann Althouse 2007

  • When you need to lay pipe or find a new ballcock in New Orleans, look for the overalls-wearing ballerina with the wooden pointer, riding an oversized tool.

    Your Right Hand Thief 2005

  • When you need to lay pipe or find a new ballcock in New Orleans, look for the overalls-wearing ballerina with the wooden pointer, riding an oversized tool.

    Archive 2005-02-01 2005

  • One was a French thing with a gear lever like a cistern's ballcock, the other a Fiat.

    The Vatican Rip Gash, Jonathan 1981

  • The last time -- ah, I recklect well, I was called in to see if somethink wasn't wrong with the ballcock in the top cistin.

    The Talking Horse And Other Tales F. Anstey 1895

  • In the toilette spray versus eau de parfume of purchasing duration calls, you'll have to ballcock your best judgment.

    Wii-volution 2010

Comments

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  • Invented by Thomas Crapper, who did NOT invent the toilet, nor is his name the origin of crap. However, the ballcock is a mechanism for filling water tanks without overflowing them, such as those commonly used in flush toilets.

    October 2, 2009