Bucketsful

/ˈbʌkɪtsfʊl/ noun

Definition

Plural of bucket + full; an alternate plural form of bucketful meaning multiple amounts equal to bucket capacity.

Etymology

Formed by pluralizing 'bucket' before adding 'full,' an older plural form that treats 'bucket' and 'full' as separate elements (compare 'spoonfuls' vs. 'spoonsful').

Kelly Says

Language historians find plural formation fascinating because 'bucketsful' treats the noun as central (plural buckets) while 'bucketfuls' treats the measurement as the unit—both are logical in different ways!

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