pailful

[ peyl-fool ]

noun

, plural pail·fuls.

1. a quantity sufficient to fill a pail:

   a pailful of water.

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pailful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; pail + -ful

Example Sentences

“Pope!” she whispered again, and it was as though he had had a pailful of ordure thrown in his face.

From Literature

A pailful of choice home-dried peaches, cooked with much care, had been set on a wagon tongue to cool and some unlucky movement precipitated the whole luscious, juicy mass into the sand below.

From Project Gutenberg

He usually brings into whatever company he frequents his little pailful of theories and dumps them willy-nilly on the carpet of conversation.

From Project Gutenberg

This sand covered the sleepers to such a depth that the mules could not step quickly; there was always a pailful of it on each foot to lift and throw off.

From Project Gutenberg

They poured five or six pailfuls of water on the cellar floor.

From Project Gutenberg