What does bushelled mean?
"Bushelled" is the past-tense form of the verb "bushel," a word that carries two quite different meanings depending on context. In agriculture and trade it means to measure out or pack goods — typically grain, apples, or other produce — by the bushel, a unit of dry volume long used for commodities. In tailoring, particularly American usage, "to bushel" a garment means to alter, press, or repair it so that it fits better, and "bushelled" describes clothing treated this way. Both uses are uncommon in modern speech; the measuring sense turns up mostly in historical accounts of harvests and markets, while the tailoring sense lingers in trade jargon rather than everyday conversation. The word derives from "bushel," which entered English from Old French "boissel," of Gallo-Romance origin, ultimately tied to a term for a small box or cask used as a measure. Though rarely needed today, "bushelled" preserves a vivid link between commerce, measurement, and craft.
Measured out or packed (goods) in bushels.
"They bushelled the corn as it came in from the fields."
Chiefly historical or agricultural contexts.
Altered or repaired (a garment), especially to improve its fit.
"The old coat had been bushelled twice before he finally replaced it."
Mainly American tailoring jargon; now rare.
Before standardized weights took over, a farmer's honesty was measured one bushelled basket at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bushelled
"Bushelled" derives from "bushel," a noun borrowed into Middle English from Old French "boissel" (modern French "boisseau"), denoting a dry-measure container. The verb sense of measuring goods in bushels developed naturally from the noun, while the tailoring sense arose separately as trade slang, likely in nineteenth-century America. Cognates include modern French "boisseau" and German "Buschel."
Related word forms
How bushelled is actually used
Both senses are rare today. The agricultural sense appears mostly in historical writing about grain trade; the tailoring sense survives mainly among older tradespeople, especially in American English.
Easily confused with bushelled
"Bushed" means exhausted, while "bushelled" refers to having been measured in bushels or (of a garment) altered.