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pailA 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.
💡 Concept

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)
🧠 Mnemonic

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.
🎵 Rhyme

The boy carried a pail along a trail and later watched a boat sail away.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/peɪl/
🇬🇧 UK/peɪl/

🌳Etymology

Rootpail

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

paletailsailnailmail
pale
tail
sail
nail
mail

🔗Collocations

water pail
milk pail
carry a pail
fill the pail
empty pail
metal pail

📝Examples

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

The farmer milked the cow into a shiny metal pail.

😄 Fun example

My dog thinks every pail is his personal swimming pool.

She kicked the pail accidentally and water splashed everywhere.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

bucketcontainervesselreceptacle

Related

barreltubbasinpitcherjug

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