a measure of capacity for dry things, as grain, fruits, dry pulse, &c., containing four pecks, or eight gallons, or one eighth of a quarter.
A bushel, by 12 Henry VII. c. 5, is to contain eight gallons of wheat; the gallon eight pounds of Troy-weight; the ounce 20 farthings, and the sterling 32 grains or corns of wheat growing in the midst of the ear.
At Paris, the bushel is divided into two half-bushels; the half bushel into two quarts; the quart into two half quarts; the half quart into two litrons; and the litron into two half-litrons. By a sentence of the provost of the merchants of Paris, the bushel is to be eight inches two lines and a half high, and ten inches in diameter; the quart four inches nine lines high, and six inches nine lines wide; the half quart four inches three lines high, and five inches diameter; the litron three inches and a half high, and three inches ten lines in diameter. Three bushels make a minot; six, a mine; 12, a septier; and 144, a muid. In other parts of France the bushel varies.
Oats are measured in a double proportion to other grains; so that 24 bushels of oats make a septier, and 288 a muid. The bushel of oats is divided into four picotins; the picotin into two half quarts, or four litrons. For salt, four bushels make one minot, and six a septier; for coals, eight bushels make one minot, 16 a mine, and 320 a muid; for lime, three bushels make a minot, and 48 minots a muid.