bushel

Where does the word "bushel" come from? It comes from Gaulish bostia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Bushel’s story begins in Gaulish: bostia meant “handful.” A Gaulish word. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as boissel. A measure for grain. It reached English by 1300s as bushel. 'hide your light under a bushel' is from the Gospels. Today, bushel means a measure of capacity for grain and fruit.

1. Stage 1 · Gaulish · ancient bostia "handful", a Gaulish word.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval boissel "dry measure", a measure for grain.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s bushel "grain measure", 'hide your light under a bushel' is from the Gospels.