schepel

A schepel is a historical unit of volume primarily used in the Netherlands and surrounding regions for dry goods such as grain and seeds. The exact capacity of a schepel varied over time and by locality, but it was generally equivalent to a fraction of a last. For example, in Amsterdam, a schepel was often considered to be 1/4 of a mud, and a mud was 1/4 of a last. This means a schepel could represent 1/16th of a last.

The word "schepel" itself derives from Old Dutch and is related to terms for measures and containers. It was a common unit in agricultural and trade contexts. The transition to metrication, which began in the Netherlands in the early 19th century, gradually led to the obsolescence of the schepel. However, it may still be encountered in historical documents, economic records, and discussions of traditional agricultural practices. Its precise historical value often requires context regarding the specific region and time period.