Boodles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An abundant amount or large quantity of something; a vast number or generous portion that exceeds expectations; a wealth of resources, typically referring to abundance in a casual or lighthearted context
2. A significant collection or multitude of items or resources; a bountiful supply that suggests generosity or excess; an ample quantity of something, usually conveying affability or mirth
3. A considerable number or great deal of possessions or elements; a plentiful offering, often characterized by a sense of humor or informality; an extensive array of goods suggesting richness or fullness

Etymology: "Boodles" is simply the plural of "boodle," so the real story belongs to the singular. "Boodle" came into English from Dutch "boedel," which meant an estate or the property left behind when someone died, and the word's core sense was that of a whole collection of belongings rather than any single item. That legal and domestic flavour explains why the noun later drifted toward ideas of loot and haul. The surprise is a family connection. "Boodle" is a doublet of "bottle," a pairing that looks unlikely until you recall that both descend from the same Germanic root meaning a dwelling or building. In some English dialects "bottle" once meant a building or house, so the household goods that filled a home and the vessel of that name share a distant ancestor.

Synonyms: lots, oodles, plenty, abundance, multitude

Antonyms: few, scarcity, lack, dearth, deficiency