pail

Pail comes from Middle English payle, of uncertain origin. It's likely from Old English pæġel, a word for a wine vessel or liquid measure, though it may also come from Old French paielle (a frying pan or liquid measure), from Latin patella, a small pan — and possibly both stories blended together.

Whether it started as a measure of liquid or a shallow pan, the word settled into meaning a bucket for carrying things, especially milk.

It's a doublet of peil, and shares roots with West Frisian pegel, German Pegel, Middle Dutch pegel, and Danish pægl — all words tied to measuring liquid levels.