pailful

[peyl-fool]

noun

plural

pailfuls 

1. a quantity sufficient to fill a pail.

   a pailful of water.

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pailful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; pail + -ful

Example Sentences

“Pope!” she whispered again, and it was as though he had had a pailful of ordure thrown in his face.

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A pailful of choice home-dried peaches, cooked with much care, had been set on a wagon tongue to cool and some unlucky movement precipitated the whole luscious, juicy mass into the sand below.

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He usually brings into whatever company he frequents his little pailful of theories and dumps them willy-nilly on the carpet of conversation.

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This sand covered the sleepers to such a depth that the mules could not step quickly; there was always a pailful of it on each foot to lift and throw off.

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They poured five or six pailfuls of water on the cellar floor.

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