passel
UK[ˈpæsəl]US[ˈpæsəl]
n
A large group or collection of people or things.
Etymology
The word 'passel' entered American English in the 19th century as a dialectal variant of 'parcel'. It represents a phonetic shift, likely influenced by Southern and Midland American pronunciation. The term 'parcel' itself originates from the Old French 'parcelle', meaning a small part or portion, which derives from the Vulgar Latin 'particella', a diminutive of Latin 'pars' (part). The semantic journey from a 'small part' to a 'large group' is an example of ironic reversal or hyperbole, a common process in language where a term evolves to mean its opposite or an intensified version in colloquial use.
Analysis
This word is a loanword and phonetic alteration. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.
Examples
A whole passel of reporters gathered outside the courthouse.
He came home with a passel of new ideas after the conference.
We've got a passel of chores to finish before the guests arrive.