[f. STOP sb.2 or v. + COCK sb.1 12.] A tap or short pipe furnished with a valve operated from the outside by turning a key or handle, for the purpose of stopping or permitting as required the passage of liquid, air, steam, gas or the like. (Sometimes improperly applied to the key or handle by which the valve is turned.)
1584. in Hudson & Tingey, Rec. Norwich (1910), II. 393. The sayd maynepype and pypes, systerne, cockes and stopcockes.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. ii. § 8 (1712), 44. Apply a tapering Valve of Brass to the lower branch of the Stopcock of the Receiver well emptied of Air, as before, and turn the Key of the Stopcock.
1664. Pepys, Diary, 25 Dec. Some family offences, such as my having of a stopcock to keepe the water from them.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 494. At one end of this cylinder there is screwed a pneumatic gun … furnished with a stop-cock, to be used occasionally.
1790. Act 30 Geo. III., c. 21 § 1. Such Pipes, Stop Cocks, Plugs [etc.].
1844. H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 209. The common stop-cock, with a lengthened tail passing downward.
1894. Times, 12 July, 14/1. The stopcock … was placed in the service pipe leading from the water main into the adjoining house.
b. attrib.
1797. J. Curr, Coal Viewer, 63. 2 Feeding cocks made in the stop cock way, with a hole in the key to turn by hand occasionally.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., 21. The stop-cock tube, c, is connected with an exhausting syringe.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 21 Feb., 2/3. The consumers … are to be compelled to put ‘stop-cock’ boxes in the pavements outside their houses.
