Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#PAILCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#PAIL payle (“bucket, pail, milking pail”), of an uncertainCategory:English terms with unknown etymologies#PAIL origin.

Likely from Old EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Old English#PAILCategory:English terms derived from Old English#PAIL pæġel (“wine vessel, container for liquids, pail; a liquid measure”), from Proto-West GermanicCategory:English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic#PAILCategory:English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic#PAIL *pagil, from Proto-Indo-EuropeanCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#PAIL *bak- (“peg, club”), equivalent to peg +‎ -le. Compare West Frisian pegel (“liquid measure, fourth of a litre, half-pint”), German Pegel (“level of liquid, level”), Middle Dutch pegel (“half-pint”), Danish pægl (“half-pint”). Doublet of peilCategory:English doublets#PAIL.

Alternatively from Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#PAIL paielle (“frying pan, warming pan; a liquid measure”), from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#PAIL patella (“small pan, shallow dish, platter”), diminutive of patina (“broad shallow pan, stewpan”). Perhaps a conflation of both.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /peɪl/, [pʰeɪ̯ɫ], [pʰeəɫ]Category:English 1-syllable words#PAILCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PAIL, enPR: pāl

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#PAIL
• Rhymes: -eɪlCategory:Rhymes:English/eɪl#PAILCategory:Rhymes:English/eɪl/1 syllable#PAILCategory:Rhymes:English/eɪl/2 syllables#PAIL
• Homophone: paleCategory:English terms with homophones#PAIL

Noun

pail (plural pails)Category:English lemmas#PAILCategory:English nouns#PAILCategory:English countable nouns#PAILCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PAILCategory:Pages with entries#PAILCategory:Pages with 2 entries#PAIL

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.Category:English terms with usage examples#PAIL

2. (in technical use) A closed (covered) cylindrical shipping container.

Anagrams

• ALIP, Lipa, Pali, Piła, lipa, pali, pali-, pial, pila

Etymology

From LatinCategory:Dalmatian terms inherited from Latin#PAILCategory:Dalmatian terms derived from Latin#PAIL pilus.

Noun

pail mCategory:Dalmatian lemmas#PAILCategory:Dalmatian nouns#PAILCategory:Dalmatian entries with incorrect language header#PAILCategory:Dalmatian masculine nouns#PAILCategory:Pages with entries#PAILCategory:Pages with 2 entries#PAIL

1. (body) hair