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Glite Dictionary
stuffing box

stuffing box

9.8
A small space around a moving shaft filled with packing material to make a seal and stop leaks
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : caja de empaquetado
  • The stuffing box prevents leakage in the pump.

Examples

  • The stuffing box was packed tightly to prevent water from seeping into the pump.

  • To prevent water leakage, it is crucial to maintain the stuffing box around the engine shaft.

  • Regular maintenance of the stuffing box can prolong the life of the equipment.

  • The engineer inspected the stuffing box to ensure there were no leaks around the shaft.

  • Can you check the stuffing box for any leaks?

  • The technician replaced the leaking stuffing box to ensure the machinery would operate efficiently.

  • Installing a new stuffing box helped seal the pipe and eliminated the persistent leak.

Synonyms

packing box
vsstuffing box
  • Specialized
7.5

A small space holding soft material around a moving shaft to stop leaks

is the alternative term with identical function and construction

Antonyms

leakage
15 3.1

The accidental escape of liquid or gas from a container through a hole

Surface Forms

stuffing box singular
stuffing boxes plural

Morphology

stuffing + box

The compound is compositionally describable as a box that contains 'stuffing', so a learner who knows 'stuffing' and 'box' can infer it refers to a container holding packing material. However, the precise technical function — compressed packing forming a seal around a moving shaft to prevent leakage — is specialized and not fully predictable from the everyday meanings of 'stuffing' (e.g., pillow filler) and 'box', so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Stuffing box gives a simple image: a small box is tightly packed with stuffing around a moving shaft, like stuffing a cushion around a rod. That's why the name describes its job — it makes a tight 'seal' 'to prevent leakage'.