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Originally and chiefly American English, the noun skull-bucket is a colloquial humorous appellation for a crash-helmet, i.e., a helmet for protecting the head in the event of an accident, worn by motorcyclists, racing-car drivers, etc.
D. C. Butterfield used this noun metaphorically in You Can Bank On It!, published in The Victoria Star (Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada) of Wednesday 26th June 2013 [page B2, column 2]:
Not to be a purveyor of doom, but, look around! Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity…” Job 36:12 “But if they obey not…”
Feel free to disagree with that, discreetly or blatantly, I’m only throwing it out to stimulate thought! I’ve got my good ole mental-metal “skull bucket” on!
These are, in chronological order, the earliest occurrences of the noun skull-bucket that I have found:
1-: From the caption to the following photograph, published in the Woodbury Daily Times (Woodbury, New Jersey, USA) of Tuesday 20th October 1942 [page 1, column 5]—here, the noun skull-bucket designates a protective head-covering worn by soldiers:
Latest Fashion
PVT. ELMER B. WILLIAMS of 16 New street, Westville, U.S. Marine stationed at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, adjusts his “skull bucket” to his comfort and greatest protection.
2-: From the column Action Line, published in the Tulsa Daily World (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) of Thursday 18th January 1968 [page 9, column 1]:
Dear Action Line: Regarding your recent item concerning the motorcycle law, an article from the Sept. 16, 1967, issue of the Detroit News states that Judge Charles Coffman of the Wayne County Detroit Circuit Court has declared the Michigan law an invasion of personal freedom and, therefore, unconstitutional. This, for practical purposes, voids the helmet law in Michigan. This is one state where the helmet law has been declared illegal.—C. W. M., Tulsa.
As we stated, some of the lower courts (such as a circuit court) in various states have declared this law unconstitutional. This does not mean, however, that the law is unconstitutional throughout the entire state. The state supreme courts will have to declare this law unconstitutional before the motorcyclist can leave his skull bucket at home without running afoul of the law.
3-: From Miscellaneous For Sale, published in The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) of Friday 16th February 1968 [page D-11, column 2]:
Bowling ball & bag $10, skull bucket $10, books 10c. 239-9429.
4-: From a letter to the Editor, published in the Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Florida, USA) of Sunday 18th February 1968 [page 1D, column 6]:
The motorcycle helmet law, of doubtful value, and questionable legality is widely adopted. Junior may not straddle his toddler, minus his skull bucket, under pain of arrest, fine and or imprisonment.
5-: From Glory, Gold at Stake at Monterey, by Jack Woodard, published in The Sacramento Union (Sacramento, California, USA) of Sunday 6th October 1968 [page E4, column 1]:
Superlatives get used up fast in describing the weekend of road racing Oct. 11-13 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey.
[…]
[…] With 80,000 bananas up for grabs in the Laguna Seca 152-miler, all of the top members of the skull-bucket set have gone ape.
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