Paraphernalia Definition

părə-fər-nālyə, -fə-nālyə
noun
Personal belongings.
Webster's New World
Articles, usually things used in some activity; equipment; apparatus; specif., the apparatus used in the storage or use of illegal drugs.
Webster's New World
Personal property given to a wife by her husband which he may dispose of during his life, but which passes to her at his death.
Webster's New World
The separate personal property of a wife over which her husband has no control.
Webster's New World

(plural only) Miscellaneous items, especially the set of equipment required for a particular activity; stuff.

He has an impressive collection of bicycling paraphernalia, but he doesn't ride very often anymore.
Wiktionary

Origin of Paraphernalia

  • Medieval Latin paraphernālia neuter pl. of paraphernālis pertaining to the parapherna a married woman's property exclusive of her dowry from Late Latin from Greek para- beyond para–1 phernē dowry bher-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • The origin of the word is Ancient Greek παρά (para) + φερνή (phernÄ“) (“things additional to a dowry"). In the propertied classes, a dowry was placed under the control of the husband, while the 'paraphernalia' which she brought with her remained the wife's property.

    From Wiktionary

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