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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of shadoof

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

Example Sentences

A shadoof, such as may be seen on the Nile, serves to draw water to irrigate the gardens.

From How I Found Livingstone; travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months' residence with Dr. Livingstone, by Henry M. Stanley by Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)

The camp of the "Forty Thieves" had been finished some time since: the gardens were flourishing, and I erected a "shadoof," or Egyptian double bucket and lever for irrigation.

From Ismailia by Baker, Samuel White, Sir

Not one of us but thrilled to the droning cry of the shadoof men on the brown banks, as the dripping water jars went up and up, tier after tier above the river level.

From It Happened in Egypt by Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris)

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

From Due West or Round the World in Ten Months by Ballou, Maturin Murray

The commonest of these machines is the shadoof.

From Chatterbox, 1906 by Clarke, J. Erskine (John Erskine)