stopcock
noun
- valve used to control the flow of a liquid or gas
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈstɑpkɑk/ / /ˈstɒpkɒk/
noun
Etymology: From stop + cock.
- A valve, tap or faucet which regulates the flow of liquid or gas through a pipe.
- A main shutoff for water to a home from a municipal supply. Usually these valves exist in pairs, one outside the property boundary and one inside the property boundary.
“If you have a burst pipe, turn the water off at the stopcock.”
verb
Etymology: From stop + cock.
- To control the gas pressure in (an oil well) by keeping the well closed in and the gas confined except during set intervals when the oil is flowed or pumped.