bushel

¹ American  

[boosh-uhl] / ˈbʊʃ əl /

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.

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bushel ² American  

[boosh-uhl] / ˈbʊʃ əl /

verb (used with object)

busheled, busheling, bushelled, bushelling

1. to alter or repair (a garment).

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bushel ¹ British  

/ 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

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bushel ² British  

/ ˈbʊʃəl /

verb

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

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bushel Idioms  

1. see hide one's light under a bushel.

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Other Word Forms

• busheler
  noun
• busheller
  noun

Etymology

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; see boss ²

Example Sentences

Wheat prices surged to record highs above $13 per bushel in early 2022.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

Corn futures rose above $7 per bushel in early 2022 as commodities traders weighed fertilizer shortages and supply disruptions.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

Most-active soybean futures trading on the Chicago Board of Trade are up 2.4% to roughly $10.92 a bushel, the highest level in nearly two months.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

For his part, Mr. Frazier has brought one bright bushel of apples to market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Dicey and James carried a towering pile of bushel baskets.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt