bushel

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in dry measure and equal to 4 pecks, 2,150.42 cubic inches, or 35.24 liters.
2. n. A unit of volume or capacity in the British Imperial System, used in dry and liquid measure and equal to 2,219.36 cubic inches or 36.37 liters. See Table at measurement.
3. n. A container with the capacity of a bushel.
4. n. Informal A large amount; a great deal: We have bushels of time, so relax.
5. v. To alter or mend (clothing).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A dry measure, containing 8 gallons or 4 pecks. The imperial bushel legally established in Great Britain in 1826 has a capacity of 2,218.192 cubic inches, and holds 80 pounds avoirdupois of distilled water at the temperature of 62° F. with the barometer at 30 inches. Previous to this the Winchester bushel had been the standard measure from Anglo-Saxon times; its capacity was 2,150.42 cubic inches. The measures of capacity of the United States are founded on the Winchester bushel, the imperial system having been created since the separation of the two countries. The name Winchester bushel is derived from the fact that the ancient standard bushel-measure of England was preserved in the town-hall of Winchester. Numerous bushels were in use in England at the time of the adoption of the imperial system. Thus, by a statute of Anne, a bushel of coals is to contain a Winchester bushel and a quart of water, to be 19½ inches in diameter, and to be heaped in the form of a cone 6 inches high. Various equivalent weights of different commodities had also been made bushels by law. Many of the American States have established equivalent weights, which vary considerably in different States. Abbreviated to bu., bush.
2. n. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel.
3. n. An indefinitely large quantity. [Colloq.]
4. n. Same as bush, 2. [U. S.]
5. To mend, as a man's garment; repair men's garments.

Wiktionary

1. n. A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons (36.4 L), or thirty-two quarts.
2. n. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel measure.
3. n. A quantity that fills a bushel measure; as, a heap containing ten bushels of apples.
4. n. colloquial A large indefinite quantity.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts.
2. n. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel measure.
3. n. A quantity that fills a bushel measure.
4. n. colloq. A large indefinite quantity.
5. n. The iron lining in the nave of a wheel. [Eng.] In the United States it is called a box. See 4th Bush.
6. v. (Tailoring), United States To mend or repair, as men's garments; to repair garments.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 pecks
2. n. a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
3. v. restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken