pailful

[ peyl-fool ]

noun

, plural pail·fuls.

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

A window was suddenly opened, and a pailful of slops splashed down upon the doorstep.

From Project Gutenberg

Now and then he would send a pailful to a publisher, and of course it would always come back.

From Project Gutenberg

Nankeens look best, washed in suds, with a teacup of ley added for each pailful.

From Project Gutenberg

After this, add a pailful of cold soft water, once an hour, till all the ashes appear to be well soaked.

From Project Gutenberg

To make soft-soap, take the proportion of one pailful of ley to three pounds of fat.

From Project Gutenberg