pailful

American  

[peyl-fool] / ˈpeɪlˌfʊl /

noun

pailfuls plural

1. a quantity sufficient to fill a pail.

   a pailful of water.

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Spelling

See -ful.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• pailfuls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pailful

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.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Those who practised polypharmacy administered at night a mixture of nitre, camphor, red-lead, and rhubarb, in half a pailful of warm water; and greatly did they boast of the active influence of this beverage.

From On the cattle plague: or, Contagious typhus in horned cattle. Its history, origin, description, and treatment by Bourguignon, Honor?

There was so little water that Terry had to dig a hole, in order to get a pailful for supper and breakfast.

From The Pike's Peak Rush Terry in the New Gold Fields by Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)

Barbara got a pailful of water from the spring and started peeling potatoes.

From The Lost Wagon by Kjelgaard, James Arthur

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.

From Horace Chase by Woolson, Constance Fenimore