pail

noun

ˈpāl 

1

: a usually cylindrical container with a handle : bucket

a milk pail

2

: the quantity that a pail contains

a pail of water

pailful

ˈpāl-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Synonyms

• bucket

Examples of pail in a Sentence

A plastic beach pail was lying on the sand.

She poured a pail of water on the campfire.

Recent Examples on the Web

McLaughlin found space because Vele executed his lunch pail assignment. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2024

Adding to their misery, meals were served out of two big steel pails pushed around on a cart by a couple of trusties. —Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2024

Prisoners got a single spoon to eat with, which had to be returned with the pail afterward, but since the trusties who delivered the meals also had to collect everything afterward, nobody counted spoons. —Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2024

Meals were served in a pail with meat and vegetables on the bottom, a piece of bread atop that, and dessert on top of everything. —Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English payle, paille

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pail

• slop pail

Kids Definition

pail

noun

ˈpā(ə)l 

1

: a round container that is open at the top and has a handle : bucket

2

: the quantity held by a pail

fetch a pail of water