brain bucket

plural brain buckets · alternative brain-bucket

1. humorousidiomaticsometimesA protective helmet, as worn, for example, by a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or soldier in combat.

   The Air Force not only makes up words and phrases (e.g., brain bucket for crash helmet) . . . .

   1956 August 13, “Education: Pigs Aren't Pigs”, in Time

   2 more examples

   Roy Knickman of 7-Eleven said he fears more crashes today and will not keep his helmet far from sight. "I always wear my brain bucket," he said.

   1987 July 7, Susan Bickelhaupt, "Tour de France Packed Solid," Boston Globe, Sports p. 33

   Riding a 500-pound motorcycle in the middle of 3-ton Ford Expeditions and 40-ton trucks is dangerous, with or without a brain bucket or a leather jacket.

   2003 July 6, Alex Berenson, “Ideas & Trends: Born to Be Wild, but at a Cost”, in New York Times, retrieved 01 Oct 2012

2. datedThe skull; the head.

   "[B]ut come, Ed, haven't you got your brain-bucket mended yet, so that you can tell us a story?"

   1880, Daniel Wise, chapter 6, in Oscar's Boyhood; or, The Sailor's Son

   1 more example

   [H]e fetched me such a clip on top of my brain-bucket as to drive all my senses clear down into my boots.

   1856, Frederick W. Saunders, “A Yarn in The Long Boat”, in Ballou's Monthly Magazine, volume 4, number 4, page 326

   Synonyms: brainbox, cranium, noggin, belfry, bean, beaner, belfry, block