Plural of boodle; large amounts of money, especially money obtained dishonestly or used for bribes in politics.
From Dutch 'boedel' (possessions, money), possibly influenced by 'caboodle,' this word came into American English meaning ill-gotten gains or bribe money. The plural refers to multiple sums.
The word 'boodles' (often in the phrase 'the whole kit and caboodle') became such a satisfying way to say 'everything' that most people forgot it originally meant corrupt money—showing how slang meanings soften over time.
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