Well-bucket

[WELL sb.¹ 3.] A bucket used to draw water from a well by means of a rope and pulley or windlass.

  Often in pairs, one on each end of a rope, so arranged that the empty bucket descends while the filled one is raised.

1477–9.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 82. For a welbokette to harry Williamsons well, and for byndynge of the same, iij s. ij d.

1544.  Inv., in Surrey Archæol. Collect., VII. 240. Itm a Well Bukket w^t a rope & a Cheyne, xij^d.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 296/2. He beareth Argent, a Bucket, Sable, the Handle and Hoops, Or. This is termed for distinction, a Well Bucket.

1695.  Dryden, Dufresnoy’s Art Paint., Observ., 120. The Muscles … are so many Well buckets; when one of them acts and draws, ’tis necessary that the other must obey.

1709.  Brit. Apollo, II. No. 6. 3/1. You like two Well-Buckets Appear, Which always must clash when they’re near.

1823.  Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 326. I saw a large well-bucket, and all the chains and wheels belonging to such a concern.