English

job lot

A large quantity of cheap items.

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    Origin

    Early 19th century. From job + lot (“one or more items auctioned or sold as a unit”). The first part is possibly from Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • partEnglishjob “A task.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishjobben
    • inheritedMiddle Englishgobbe “mass, lump”
      • derivedOld Frenchgobet
        • derivedTransalpine Gaulish*gobbo- “neb, muzzle”
    • partEnglishlot “A large quantity or number; a great deal.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlot
        • inheritedOld Englishhlot “portion, choice, decision”

    Sources