bucket brigade

noun

1. a line of persons formed to extinguish a fire by passing on buckets of water quickly from a distant source.
2. any group of persons who cooperate to help cope with an emergency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bucket brigade¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The next morning, I grabbed my old gear, got a lift to the site and found a place on a bucket brigade.

From Time

The brick in the building of Felix Bachman & Company and the volunteer bucket-brigade prevented a general conflagration.

From Project Gutenberg

They were passing armfuls of books from one to another, along the lines, like a bucket brigade.

From Project Gutenberg

He got the fire all right; but there was a lively time around there, until the bucket brigade arrived, and slushed things down.

From Project Gutenberg

As I watched, gaps appeared in the bucket-brigade as castmembers slipped away, faces burning scarlet with shame.

From Project Gutenberg

The bucket brigade was working well under the direction of Ruth, and the garage was saved.

From Project Gutenberg