1. The using of a bucket; the pouring of bucketfuls of water over a person.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas (1608), 10. Danaides sivelike Tub … never full for all their bucketing.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., I. 28. Water, Water … come all to buckittings.
1759. B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., I. 85. Bucketting … taking up the Water in Buckets, and pouring it leisurely on the Parts affected.
1863. Kingsley, Water-bab., iv. 172. They … had recourse to … Bleedings, Bucketings with cold water.
2. a. Heavy, exhausting riding. b. = PUMPING; breathless exhaustion by violent exercise. c. Hurried and jerky rowing.
1856. Whyte-Melville, Kate Coventry, xi. I had rather give Brilliant a good ‘bucketting’ … over an even heath or a line of grass.
1876. Besant & Rice, Gold. Butterfly, xv. 133. Jack’s bucketing up the river.
1883. Miss Braddon, Gold. Calf, xxi. 238. The laming of a fine horse by injudicious bucketting up hill and down hill.
1883. Standard, 22 Feb., 3/7. In a long trial Dry Remark always showed a little the best of the pace, and had a fearful bucketting before the spin ended.
