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 On Tuesday evening, SpaceX launched its 42nd rocket of the year, carrying yet another passel of Starlink satellites into orbit. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 24 Apr. 2024 Microsoft announced a whole passel of Copilot Plus PCs at its Surface event on Monday, and Samsung’s entries are a 14-inch laptop and two 16-inch ones, known collectively as the Galaxy Book4 Edge. Nathan Edwards, The Verge, 20 May 2024 Molly learns a passel of thinpgs in this surrealist, carnivalesque bildungsroman. Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024 Mothers, children, and the disabled clutch passels of documents along the sidewalk. Abraham Nussbaum and Renee Y. Hsia, STAT, 2 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for passel 

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 2 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

passel

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