(sometimes used with a singular verb) equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity: a skier's paraphernalia.
(used with a plural verb) personal belongings.
(used with a singular verb)Law. the personal articles, apart from dower, reserved by law to a married woman.
Origin of paraphernalia
1470–80; <Medieval Latin paraphernālia (bona) a bride's goods, beyond her dowry, equivalent to Late Latin paraphern(a) a bride's property (<Greek parápherna, equivalent to para-para-1 + phern(ḗ) dowry, derivative of phérein to bear1 + -a neuter plural noun suffix) + Latin -ālia, noun use of neuter plural of -ālis-al1
Cropped out of frame are the tangles of wires and extension cords, baskets of laundry to be folded, and growing pile of homeschooling paraphernalia kids accumulate.
A peek inside home offices around the world|Anne Quito|September 20, 2020|Quartz
Inside, the small shop has only a bench for people waiting on food, with paraphernalia from local sports teams plastered all over the walls.
The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save|by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel|September 12, 2020|ProPublica
The conversation turned to Elvis when the Duchess mentioned her growing collection of Presley recordings and paraphernalia.
The Duchess Who Secretly Loved Elvis: Remembering Lunch with 'Debo,' The Last Mitford Sister|Lloyd Grove|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Game of Thrones—or at least its paraphernalia—is inescapable these days.
Kanye West, John Legend & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)|Victoria Kezra|August 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There were elaborate errands, chores, and routines to securing drugs and disposing of paraphernalia.
The bulk of the video was of photographs and paraphernalia Young said she found in plain sight on a kitchen counter.
Cheri Young, the ‘Steel Magnolia’ of the Edwards Trial, Shoves Back|Diane Dimond|May 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I also have Wonder Woman paraphernalia from when I wrote five issues of the comic, and pictures of my husband and kids.
Jodi Picoult on Writing, Publishing, and What She’s Reading|Noah Charney|April 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When I returned I perceived that my paraphernalia had been relegated to the bench behind, and the place taken by Operoff himself.
Youth|Leo Tolstoy
I cannot help feeling that his conversation is not worth the paraphernalia.
The Angel and the Author - and Others|Jerome K. Jerome
Dunham shook his head as he bundled their paraphernalia out of the boat.
The Opened Shutters|Clara Louise Burnham
And whence came the six water-casks, the sail, and other paraphernalia seen upon the escaping craft?
The Ocean Waifs|Mayne Reid
Sullivan then resorted to sending various friends and powerful politicians for the paraphernalia seized.
Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World|Clifton R. Wooldridge
British Dictionary definitions for paraphernalia
paraphernalia
/ (ˌpærəfəˈneɪlɪə) /
pl n(sometimes functioning as singular)
miscellaneous articles or equipment
law(formerly) articles of personal property given to a married woman by her husband before or during marriage and regarded in law as her possessions over which she has some measure of control
Word Origin for paraphernalia
C17: via Medieval Latin from Latin parapherna personal property of a married woman, apart from her dowry, from Greek, from para-1 + phernē dowry, from pherein to carry