A ballcock is a simple machine that controls water in a tank, most famously the tank on the back of a toilet.

ballcock浮球閥 is是 a simple machine一個簡單的裝置 that controls water控制水量 in a tank在水箱裡 most famously最有名的就是 the tank馬桶 on the back後面的水箱

A hollow ball floats on the water. As the tank fills, the ball rises on a stick; when it gets high enough, it closes a hole so water stops coming in. When you flush, the water drops, the ball drops, and the hole opens again.

A hollow ball一個空心球 floats漂 on the water在水面上 As the tank fills水箱裝水時 the ball rises球會 on a stick順著一根桿子往上升 when it gets high enough升到夠高時 it closes a hole就會關住一個洞 so這樣 water stops coming in水就不再流進來 When you flush你沖水時 the water drops水位下降 the ball drops球也跟著下降 and the hole opens again洞就又打開

That is all it is: a floating ball that works a tap.

That is all it is它就是這樣 a floating ball一個浮球 that works a tap控制一個水龍頭開關

Plumbers still use the word. Though actually, many modern toilets hide a plastic version of the same idea, and shops may just say fill valve. The old name stuck because you can see the ball.

Plumbers水電工 still use the word現在還是用這個字 Though actually不過其實 many modern toilets很多現代馬桶 hide a plastic version of the same idea把同樣原理的塑膠版藏起來 and shops而店家 may just say fill valve可能只說fill valve The old name stuck舊名字之所以留下來 because you can see the ball是因為看得到那顆球

First written down in the 1700s.

First written down最早被寫下來 in the 1700s是在1700年代