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Bucket

Open-top watertight container

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated May 18, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

A bucket is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone or square, with an open top and a flat bottom that is attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the bail. A bucket is usually an open-top container. When in reference to a shipping container, the term "pail" is used as a technical term, specifically referring to a bucket-shaped package with a sealed top or lid, which is used as a transport container for chemicals and industrial products.

Buckets are used for catching, holding, or carrying liquids and solids. Buckets may also be used for long-term food storage. As an obsolete unit of measurement, at least one source documents a 'bucket' as being equivalent to 4 imperial gallons (18 L; 4.8 US gal).

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Bucket”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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