Test
Your
Word IQ! Play Now

Winchester bushel

noun

See under bushel1(def 1).

Origin of Winchester bushel

1695–1705; after Winchester, England

Definition for winchester bushel (2 of 2)

bushel1
[ boo sh-uh l ]
/ ˈbʊʃ əl /

noun

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 English bu(i)sshel < Middle French boissel, equivalent to boisse unit of measure (< Gaulish *bostia; compare MIr bas, bos palm of the hand, handbreadth) + -el noun suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for winchester bushel (1 of 2)

bushel1
/ (ˈbʊʃəl) /

noun

a Brit unit of dry or liquid measure equal to 8 Imperial gallons. 1 Imperial bushel is equivalent to 0.036 37 cubic metres
a US unit of dry measure equal to 64 US pints. 1 US bushel is equivalent to 0.035 24 cubic metres
a container with a capacity equal to either of these quantities
US informal a large amount; great deal
hide one's light under a bushel to conceal one's abilities or good qualities

Word Origin for bushel

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

British Dictionary definitions for winchester bushel (2 of 2)

bushel2
/ (ˈbʊʃəl) /

verb -els, -elling, -elled, -els, -eling or -eled

(tr) US to alter or mend (a garment)

Derived forms of bushel

busheller, busheler or bushelman, noun

Word Origin for bushel

C19: probably from German bosseln to do inferior work, patch, from Middle High German bōzeln to beat, from Old High German bōzan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with winchester bushel

bushel

see hide one's light under a bushel.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.