umpteen

From ump (“colloquial name for the dash "—" in Morse code”) +‎ -teen. Unrelated to ump as in "umpire", simply a mnemonic rhyming aid.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʌmp.tiːn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːn

umpteen

1. (informal, often slightly derogatory) Relatively large but unspecified in number. [1907^[1]]

   Synonym: umpty-ump

   She's taking umpteen friends with her to the party.

   • 1911, O.E. Shannon, edited by J.W. Hays, The Typographical Journal‎^[1], volume XXXVVIII, number 4, page 439:

     We still claim a population of over 300,000 based on the new city directory, and that chief of the census who threw out umpteen thousand names on us this spring can’t put his name on our slipboard any more.

   • 2001, American Bar Association, Symposium Issue of The Professional Lawyer:

     Does it continue to make sense to have umpteen definitions of the practice of law, umpteen UPL prohibitions, umpteen UPL investigation and prosecution procedures, and umpteen UPL sanctions? The current crazy quilt of regulation in this area makes it difficult for anyone to know (including lawyers) what is and is not permitted in a particular jurisdiction.

   • 2014, Kevin Brockmeier, A Few Seconds of Radiant Filmstrip: A Memoir of Seventh Grade:

     He tries, "The few, the proud, the umpteen," and Shane says, "Umpteen? Pray tell me, good sir, who is this umpteen of which you speak?" and Joseph says, "Umpteen Dumpteen sat on a wall," and they both break up laughing.
     "It's like a bunch, isn't it? 'Umpteen'?" This from Sean Lanham, whose small round skull has inspired Coach Dale to name him Peahead.

• umpteenth