What is the difference between a "kit" and a "caboodle"?

Answer 1

Kit and caboodle" (which is the most common form) dates back to the mid-eighteenth century and appeared first in England. There are a number of variants, including "kit and kerboodle" and "kit and boodle." The "kit" part of the phrase is of fairly straightforward origin, "kit" being an 18th century English slang term for "outfit" or "collection," as in a soldier's "kit bag," which contained all his worldly possessions. "Kit" may have come from "kith," meaning "estate," found today in the phrase "kith and kin."

"Caboodle" is a tougher nut to crack. As usual, there are a number of theories, the most likely of which traces "boodle" back to the Dutch word "boedel," meaning "property." Lawyers take note: "boodle" actually was a respectable word in its own right (meaning "estate") in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was even used in legal documents. But why "caboodle" or "kerboodle"? The "ca" and "ker" may be related to the intensive German prefix "ge," giving the sense "the whole boodle." Put it all together and you get "kit and caboodle," meaning "everything and all of everything," down to the last kitten.

Answer 2

They're practically the same thing except Caboodle is an actual brand for a kind of makeup kit. It's just one of those things where a brand name becomes what people call it like Fridgedare for refrigerator or Coke for soda. But in essence, kit can be more universal in meaning: Starter-Kit, Survival Kit, Prize Kit, etc...

Answer 3

What Is A Caboodle

Answer 4

There is another use for the word, "kaboodle.

It is a small hen house, kept is small family plots or yards.

I really doubt the "make up kit" suggestion is anywhere near the origin of the word. I'd bet that this is a modern adaptation for a product, capitalizing on the previous uses for "everything a person owns."

Answer 5

1-kit- part of it, to get you going
2- caboodle-is the whole nine yards, everything you think you need or may want