pail

noun

1
: a usually cylindrical container with a handle : bucket
a milk pail
2
: the quantity that a pail contains
a pail of water
pailful noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Delhi, some of the millions of devotees could be seen, holy water balanced in pails, or containers hanging from each end of the kanwar pole that gives the festival its name. Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 25 July 2025 That’s lunch, muse of lunch pails, bentos, picnic baskets, dosirak, tiffins. Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 21 July 2025 Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025 How to gradually transition your dog to The Farmer's Dog One of my dogs is a little sensitive to different foods and one is an actual garbage pail and will eat anything. Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pail

Word History

Etymology

Middle English payle, paille

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pail was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pail. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pail

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pail

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