noun
- plural of shadoof: ancient irrigation devices consisting of a long pole balanced on a fulcrum, with a bucket on one end and a counterweight on the other, used to lift water from rivers or wells
Usage: historical; agricultural technology
Examples
- Ancient Egyptian farmers used shadoofs to irrigate their crops along the Nile River.
- The museum displayed several reconstructed shadoofs showing early irrigation methods.
- Shadoofs were essential tools for agriculture in ancient Mesopotamia.
- Modern pumps have largely replaced the traditional shadoofs in most regions.
- The archaeological site revealed evidence of shadoofs dating back thousands of years.
- Farmers operated shadoofs by pulling down the bucket end to lift water from the canal.