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Why Is it Called a Bumper Crop?
Why Is it Called a Bumper Crop?. A" bumper crop" refers to a particularly bountiful harvest, especially if crop yields have been minimal in previous years. There are several explanations cited for the origins of the expression.
A" bumper crop" refers to a particularly bountiful harvest, especially if crop yields have been minimal in previous years. There are several explanations cited for the origins of the expression.
Dictionary Definition
The word "bumper" is most commonly used as a noun to mean something that bumps; a guardrail or protective rim, usually attached to the front or back of an automobile, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Used as an adjective, "bumper" means "unusually large or abundant."
Silo Bumper
Some farmers refer to the top edge of a silo, where crops are stored, as the "bumper." Harvesting an unusually large crop that fills the silo to the bumper became known as a "bumper crop."
Overflowing
In the 17th century, a "bumper" referred to a large glass of beer or wine filled to the brink of overflowing. The term then carried over to refer to anything in abundance.
Swelling
Large swellings of baskets and containers, like those used to ship commodities to market, were known as "bumpers" in the 18th century. A harvest large enough to yield swelling baskets was thus referred to as a "bumper crop."
Other Phrases
The word "bumper" was used by local farmers to refer to more than just crops. Other common phrases included "bumper business" to mean a busy holiday season and "bumper traffic" to mean crowded city streets.
