townfuln.
/ˈtaʊnfʊl/, U.S. /ˈtaʊnˌfʊl/ As much or as many as would fill a town. Frequently in hyperbolical use. Chiefly with of.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > population > [noun] > of a town
townful1666
1666 J. Glanvill Philos. Endeavour Def. Witches & Apparitions 24 When a whole Townful of Innocents fall a Victim to the rage and ferity of barbarous executioners.
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 44 An Egg is a mouthful of Meat and a Townful of Shame. That is if it be stoln, intimating that a little Thing pick'd will procure a great Disgrace.
1833 Dublin Univ. Mag. Oct. 448/1 The Captain is fond of flattering the ladies in groups of a townful at a time.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic III. iv. iv. 70 Had they not slaughtered unarmed human beings by townfuls, at the word of command?
1894 Westm. Gaz. 18 June 7/2 There were in the country not only junkers but big townfuls of poorly-paid working people, whose lives depended on a cheap loaf.
1926 Boys' Life Oct. 37/1 It was not wise to set a townful of red warriors pondering about the business of a small party of five men heading for the Wilderness!
2003 F. Davis Hist. Blues (new ed.) ii. 87 It's impossible to imagine him holding a townful of strangers spellbound from a soapbox.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1666- to give the mantie to
- to give the mantle and the ring
- to give the mate
- to give the mitten
- to give the name to
- to give the nap
- to give the needle
- to give the nod
- to give the office
- to give the ok
- to give the ok to
- to give the onset
- to give the oo
- to give the overthrow
- to give the parabien
- to give the parabien of
- to give the pas
- to give the pesame
- to give the point
- to give the push
- to give the razoo
- to give the razzle
- to give the razzle-dazzle
- to give the razzledazzle
- to give the razzmatazz