n. - A vessel for drawing up water from a well, or for catching, holding, or carrying water, sap, or other liquids.
n. - A vessel (as a tub or scoop) for hoisting and conveying coal, ore, grain, etc.
n. - One of the receptacles on the rim of a water wheel into which the water rushes, causing the wheel to revolve; also, a float of a paddle wheel.
n. - The valved piston of a lifting pump.
v. t. - To draw or lift in, or as if in, buckets; as, to bucket water.
v. t. - To pour over from a bucket; to drench.
v. t. - To ride (a horse) hard or mercilessly.
v. t. - To make, or cause to make (the recovery), with a certain hurried or unskillful forward swing of the body.