Hatful

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A considerable quantity that is sufficient to fill or be contained within a head covering is often referred to as abundant
2. An amount that can be perceived as large within a specific context is typically described as a large collection
3. A significant grouping or alliance of items or things that can be associated together is commonly understood as a notable gathering

Etymology: "Hatful" is a plain compound: "hat" plus the suffix "-ful," the same ending found in words like "handful," "spoonful," and "armful." The suffix comes from the Old English adjective "full," which in compounds came to mean "as much as a container will hold," so a hatful is the amount a hat can contain. The word is a straightforward formation rather than a borrowing or a coinage with a famous backstory. The meaning the entry gives, a notable gathering or alliance of things, is a figurative extension of that container sense. Just as a "handful" can describe a small number of people as well as a quantity held in the palm, "hatful" has been used loosely for a group that fills a space or stands out as a collection. The leap from a literal headgear measure to a gathering is an ordinary metaphor, and the word's structure makes its sense transparent to any English speaker.

Synonyms: capful, load, collection, bunch, gathering

Antonyms: emptiness, lack, scarcity, deficiency, void