kaboodle

[Dave Wilton]

The usual spelling is "caboodle." It's a variant of "boodle," which is from the Dutch "boedel," meaning estate, possessions, or property. It was more common in the 19th century, when you found phrases like "the whole boodle" or "the whole caboodle."

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Mandel
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 5:38 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: kaboodle

We have it only in the idiom "(the whole) kit and kaboodle", but does
anyone know its origin?

--
Mark Mandel

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org