bucket brigade

noun

: a chain of persons acting to put out a fire by passing buckets of water from hand to hand

Examples of bucket brigade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Farmers and their families protested en masse, forming a 10,000 person bucket brigade, clashing with authorities and forcing the dam gates open. Melina Mara, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 The bucket brigade can also be seen as how our love, praise, and consideration for others are passed on from person to person, reaching people far away. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2023 But as soon as the catamaran’s ladder drops on the beach, there’s another bucket brigade forming. Paul P. Murphy, CNN, 12 Aug. 2023 Kim stood in the middle of a bucket brigade passing cardboard boxes full of chips to another student volunteer. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2023 Neighbors formed a bucket brigade to move water from a nearby river. Matthew Thompson, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2022 Throngs of laborers in shorts and saris form a bucket brigade. Curbed, 17 Feb. 2022 The sharp drop in steam pressure also shut down both bilge pumps, so both passengers and crew worked strenuously as part of a bucket brigade to fight off the rising water. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2022 Initial numbers hint that the bucket brigade of Jaedon LeDee, Darrion Trammell, Lamont Butler, Nathan Mensah, Matt Bradley, Micah Parrish and Keshad Johnson, Aguek Arop and Adam Seiko can hold their own with the stars of the past. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bucket brigade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bucket brigade was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near bucket brigade

Cite this Entry

“Bucket brigade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bucket%20brigade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bucket brigade

noun
: a chain of persons acting to put out a fire by passing buckets of water from hand to hand
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