Ashen bucket, say (4)
I believe the answer is:
pale
'ashen' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'bucket say' is the wordplay.
'bucket' becomes 'pail' (synonyms).
'say' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'pail' sounds like 'PALE'.
(Other definitions for pale that I've seen before include "picket" , "Very light coloured" , "Upright member" , "Not bright - limit" , "A bit of fencing" .)