Pail
/peɪl/noun
A bucket or container with a handle, used for carrying liquids.
Did you know?Pail is ultimately from the same ancient root as Latin patella, the word behind English words like patella, showing how one old base for a shallow container split into very different modern forms.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to protect, cover”
Latin
Latin
patella
“a shallow pan or dish”
Old French
Old French
paele
“a pan, frying pan”
Middle English
English
paille
“a pail or bucket”
Modern English
English
pail
“a bucket or container with a handle”