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shadoof

American  
[shah-doof] / ʃɑˈduf /
Or shaduf

noun

  1. a device used in Egypt and other Eastern countries for raising water, especially for irrigation, consisting of a long suspended rod with a bucket at one end and a weight at the other.


shadoof British  
/ ʃəˈduːf /

noun

  1. a mechanism for raising water, consisting of a pivoted pole with a bucket at one end and a counterweight at the other, esp as used in Egypt and the Near East

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shadoof

First recorded in 1830–40, shadoof is from the Egyptian Arabic word shadūf

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The men working at the 21 shadoof on the river brink have only a strip of cloth around their loins.

From Project Gutenberg

If he has stolen a shadoof or a plough, he shall give three shekels of silver.

From Project Gutenberg

Irrigation seems to go on more actively even than lower down; I saw to-day no less than twenty-four shadoofs all in a row, and in full play.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most common sights along the Nile is the shadoof.

From Project Gutenberg

Here we began to see small herds of brown buffaloes, and peasants plying the irrigating buckets of the shadoof.

From Project Gutenberg