In a recent thread I read a word I hadn't seen in donkey's years - pail.

When (and how) did bucket become pail?

And, for that matter, when did jug (or ewer) become pitcher?

Pitcher and pail are very much NA words not in use in Europe or (I think) the Antipodes. The only instance I can find of a use of the word both sides of the pond is the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme.