pail

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: Pail, päil, Päil, and pa'il

English

[edit]
A pail (def 1)

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English payle (bucket, pail, milking pail), of uncertain origin.

Likely from Old English pæġel (wine vessel, container for liquids, pail; a liquid measure), from Proto-West Germanic *pagil, from Proto-Indo-European *bak- (peg, club), equivalent to peg +‎ -le. Compare German Pegel (level of liquid, level), Middle Dutch pegel (half-pint), Danish pægl (half-pint).

Alternatively from Old French paielle (frying pan, warming pan; a liquid measure), from Latin patella (small pan, shallow dish, platter), diminutive of patina (broad shallow pan, stewpan). Perhaps a conflation of both.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

pail (plural pails)

  1. A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover).
    Synonym: bucket
    The milkmaid carried a pail of milk in each hand.
  2. (In technical use) A closed (covered) cylindrical shipping container.

Derived terms

[edit]

Descendants

[edit]
  • Kashubian: pil (Canada, United States)

Translations

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]

Dalmatian

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Latin pilus.

Noun

[edit]

pail m

  1. (body) hair

See also

[edit]