passel

noun

pas·​sel ˈpa-səl How to pronounce passel (audio)
: a large number or amount

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Passel and Parcel

Loss of the sound of "r" after a vowel and before a consonant in the middle of a word is common in spoken English. This linguistic idiosyncrasy has given the language a few new words, including cuss from curse, bust from burst, and passel from parcel.

Examples of passel in a Sentence

reporters had a whole passel of questions for the new basketball coach the young couple helped a passel of students in the span of a few years
Recent Examples on the Web Mothers, children, and the disabled clutch passels of documents along the sidewalk. Abraham Nussbaum and Renee Y. Hsia, STAT, 2 Nov. 2023 In a group interview at the theater, the producers outlined a passel of initiatives to entice audiences of all ages to the musical, a rollicking, 90-minute party under a glittering disco ball. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023 Thankfully, a passel of gifted mischief-makers — including Michael Urie, James Monroe Iglehart, Nik Walker, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Christopher Fitzgerald, Ethan Slater and Jimmy Smagula — are along for the ride as well. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023 So who among the team's passel of prospects has stood out and is likely to wear a Brewers uniform sometime soon? Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2023 The Celtics have accumulated a passel of second-round picks. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023 The picture Springer eventually took of that farm school features a passel of children gathered like a choir of angels, sitting on hay bales between their school lessons, bathed in afternoon light as if in a Renaissance painting. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023 So co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive backs coach Deron Wilson are implementing new schemes in the secondary with a veteran group that includes Hudson Clark, Jayden Johnson, Malik Chavis and transfer Al Walcott, plus a passel of newcomers. Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2023 The show follows the fight, flight and uphill climb of Tharpe, whose concert and recording career, segueing from gospel to swing to R&B, were influences on Elvis Presley, Little Richard and a passel of other rock-and-rollers. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'passel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of parcel

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passel was in 1835

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Dictionary Entries Near passel

Cite this Entry

“Passel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

passel

noun
pas·​sel ˈpas-əl How to pronounce passel (audio)
: a large number : group
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