a unit of dry measure containing 4 pecks, equivalent in the U.S. (and formerly in England) to 2150.42 cubic inches or 35.24 liters (Winchester bushel), and in Great Britain to 2219.36 cubic inches or 36.38 liters (Imperial bushel). Abbreviation: bu., bush.
a container of this capacity.
a unit of weight equal to the weight of a bushel of a given commodity.
a large, unspecified amount or number: a bushel of kisses.
Origin of bushel
1
1250–1300;Middle Englishbu(i)sshel < Middle Frenchboissel, equivalent to boisse unit of measure (< Gaulish*bostia; compare MIr bas, bos palm of the hand, handbreadth) + -el noun suffix
early 14c., measure of capacity containing four pecks or eight gallons, from Old French boissel "bushel" (13c., Modern French boisseau), probably from boisse, a grain measure based on Gallo-Romance *bostia "handful," from Gaulish *bosta "palm of the hand" (cf. Irish bass, Breton boz "the hollow of the hand"). The exact measure varied from place to place and according to commodity, and since late 14c. it has been used loosely to mean "a large quantity or number."
