‖schepel, noun

/ˈskɪəp(ə)l/
Forms:
schippel, skeepelShow more Also schippel, skeepel, skepel, skeppel.
Plurals:
schepels, occasionally schepelen.
Origin:
Dutch, AfrikaansShow more Dutch (later Afrikaans skepel).
historical
a. A unit of capacity roughly equivalent to one third of a bushel, formerly used as a measure for grain, etc. b. In full skepelmaat/ˈskɪəp(ə)lˌmaːt/ [Afrikaans, maat measure]: the box used for this measurement. Cf. muid.
1806 J.M. Smyth in G.M. Theal Rec. of Cape Col. (1900) VI. 47Oats..will be received at the rate of five skeepels or bushels.
1809 J. Mackrill Diary. 66A load of anything they call a Freight and their measure called Mudde/Muid contains Four Skeppels.
1815 J. Mackrill Diary. 118The Dutch Schepel in Cape Town, Three Schepelen make two English Bushels.
1824 S. Afr. Commercial Advertiser 28 Jan. 30Public Sale...396 Schepels of Coals and Coal Dust, in Lots of 36 Schepels each.
1833 S. Afr. Almanack & Dir. 41Corn measure. 4 Schepels, equal to 1 Muid. 10 Muids, equal to 1 Load.
1866 Cape Town Dir. 118Fees for assizing weights and measures...For measuring every bushel or schepel.
1877 F. Jeppe Tvl Bk Almanac & Dir. (1976) 74Schepels are about 3 imperial bushels and 11 schepels are about 1 quarter. A schepel is [1]4½ inches square by 8½ deep.
1912 W. Westrup Land of To-Morrow 94A schippel is the box — any old box — we use as a measure when buying grain.
c1963 B.C. Tait Durban Story 124Grain was measured out in schepels. The schepel was a square box of 14½ inches with a depth of 8½ inches and was lifted by means of handles on opposite sides.
1964 L.G. Green Old Men SayDutch weights and measures were also in everyday use; and some people were only able to think in terms of the ‘ell,’ the ‘old gallon,’ ‘schepel’ and ‘muid.’
1971 Baraitser & Obholzer Cape Country Furn. 259Grain was portioned out by a wooden measure in the form of a 30 cms square, lidless box (skepelmaat) that held a quarter of a bag of grain.
A unit of capacity roughly equivalent to one third of a bushel, formerly used as a measure for grain, etc.
In full skepelmaat/ˈskɪəp(ə)lˌmaːt/ [Afrikaans, maat measure]:the box used for this measurement.
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18061971

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scheme, verb transitivev.schepen, nounn.
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