Loss of the sound of "r" after a vowel and before a consonant in the middle of a word is common in spoken English. This linguistic idiosyncrasy has given the language a few new words, including cuss from curse, bust from burst, and passel from parcel.
reporters had a whole passel of questions for the new basketball coach
the young couple helped a passel of students in the span of a few years
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Sokoloff — who is wonkish, earnest and spreadsheet-centric — has garnered other supporters, too, including local Democratic clubs and politicians, as well as a passel of union chapters.—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 Being transported out of Kansas is one of a passel of expressions from movies that have launched a thousand lips.—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026 Plus space headlines and a whole passel of your space jokes!—Space.com Staff, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026 Yes, these Dodgers could be better than a group that produced two MVPs, two World Series MVPs, and a passel of All-Star appearances.—Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for passel