pail — A bucket, typically made of metal or plastic, used for carrying liquids
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A bucket, typically made of metal or plastic, used for carrying liquids
Pronunciation (IPA): /peɪl/
Example Sentences
- Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
- The farmer milked the cow into a shiny metal pail.
- My dog thinks every pail is his personal swimming pool.
pail
NOUN[/peɪl/]
A bucket, typically made of metal or plastic, used for carrying liquids

The little girl filled a pail with water from the well.

The farmer carried a pail of milk from the barn. (PAIL ≈ PAIL OF WATER → imagine carrying a little bucket full of water)

The boy carried a pail along a trail and later watched a boat sail away.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'pail' derives from Middle English 'paile', which came from Old French 'paele' (pan, pot). This Old French term is related to Latin 'patella', originally meaning a small dish or plate, and later also referring to the kneecap. The semantic evolution progressed from a flat, shallow container to the deeper, cylindrical bucket sense used today.
Breakdown
Latin 'patella' (small dish, plate) → Old French 'paele' (pan) → Middle English 'paile' → English 'pail' (bucket). The root 'patella' refers to any shallow, flat vessel, which evolved into the modern meaning of a deep, cylindrical water container.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.”
“The farmer milked the cow into a shiny metal pail.”
“My dog thinks every pail is his personal swimming pool.”
“She kicked the pail accidentally and water splashed everywhere.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Related
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