pail

[peyl]

noun

1. bucket.

2. the amount filling a pail.

pail

/ peɪl /

noun

1. a bucket, esp one made of wood or metal

2. Also called: pailful. the quantity that fills a pail

Word History and Origins

Origin of pail¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English payle “wooden container,” continuing Old English pægel “wine container, liquid measure” (of unknown origin; compare Middle Dutch, Low German pegel “half pint”), by association with Old French paielle “pan,” from Latin patella; patella

Word History and Origins

Origin of pail¹

Old English pægel; compare Catalan paella frying pan, _paella

Example Sentences

The coach handed out metal lunch pails and blue-collar work shirts customized with embroidered name tags to symbolize the team’s hard-working mentality.

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Suddenly, she’s brandishing a mop and pail everywhere like a rootless knight without a quest or a horse.

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Our toddler’s diaper pail in the hollow of a crawl space mixed with the remnants of the dining room.

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To complete the Chargers’ blue-collar mentality, black lunch pails were recently dropped at every locker.

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Customers can customize their festive pails with themed stickers for “a truly monstrous makeover.”

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Related Words

• canister 
• container 
• jug 
• pot