subs. (American).—A crowd; generally ‘the whole CABOODLE.’ [Thought to be an enlarged form of BOODLE which is frequently used in the same sense, and which is supposed by some to be derived from the old English bottel, a bundle (Fr. botel, boteau. Ger. beutel.). See, however, BOODLE, subs., sense 1. Another derivation is from the Spanish cabildo, a provincialism for the corporation of a town.] CABOODLE is general throughout the States, and has now almost completely supplanted BOODLE (q.v.), which is usually applied in a different sense. Sometimes CABOOSE (q.v.).
1858. New Orleans Picayune, 23 Feb. The whole CABOODLE came out and fell upon me, till I was as soft as a squash, and then they took me up for fighting.
1887. Scribner’s Magazine. Ye’ve got ter have faith in Goddie-mighty then, sure, a-swingin’ up an’ down them mount’nsides, dark nights or bright, when a rock on the track f’om a landslide ’ud fling the whole CABOODLE down the mount’n an inter kingdom come afo’ you’d know it.
