bushel

¹

[boosh-uhl]

noun

1. a unit of dry measure containing 4 pecks, equivalent in the U.S. (and formerly in England) to 2,150.42 cubic inches or 35.24 liters Winchester bushel, and in Great Britain to 2,219.36 cubic inches or 36.38 liters Imperial bushel. bu., bush.

2. a container of this capacity.

3. a unit of weight equal to the weight of a bushel of a given commodity.

4. a large, unspecified amount or number.

   a bushel of kisses.

bushel

²

[boosh-uhl]

verb (used with object)

busheled, busheling , bushelled, bushelling .

1. to alter or repair (a garment).

bushel

¹

/ ˈbʊʃəl /

noun

1. a Brit unit of dry or liquid measure equal to 8 Imperial gallons. 1 Imperial bushel is equivalent to 0.036 37 cubic metres

2. a US unit of dry measure equal to 64 US pints. 1 US bushel is equivalent to 0.035 24 cubic metres

3. a container with a capacity equal to either of these quantities

4. informal,  a large amount; great deal

5. to conceal one's abilities or good qualities

bushel

²

/ ˈbʊʃəl /

verb

1. (tr) to alter or mend (a garment)

Other Word Forms

• busheler noun
• busheller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bushel¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bu(i)sshel, bus(s)chel, from Old French boissel, boistiel, equivalent to boisse unit of measure for grain (from assumed Gaulish bostia; compare Middle Irish bas, bos “palm of the hand, handbreadth,” Breton boz “palm of the hand”) + -el noun suffix

Origin of bushel²

1875–80, < German bosseln to patch < French bosseler to emboss; boss ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of bushel¹

C14: from Old French boissel , from boisse one sixth of a bushel, of Gaulish origin

Origin of bushel²

C19: probably from German bosseln to do inferior work, patch, from Middle High German bōzeln to beat, from Old High German bōzan

Idioms and Phrases

see hide one's light under a bushel.

Example Sentences

Following Penelope’s instructions, the children found three empty bushels and packed them full of treasures; the lighter objects they placed in the wicker basket, which was smaller and easier for Cassiopeia to carry.

Read more on Literature

That’s down from the agency’s previous estimate of 16.81 billion bushels, but still the most corn ever produced by U.S. farmers in a marketing year by nearly 1.5 billion bushels from the previous record.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Gospel of Matthew advises Christians to not hide their light under a bushel basket.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Brazil alone has shipped around 2.5 billion bushels to China this year, while U.S. exports have been relatively small, she noted.

Read more on MarketWatch

Some farmers who have already sold bushels from this year’s crop are facing financial losses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal