adverb taking the 'to' particle
in swarms; in great crowds; plentifully
Describes a large number of people or things gathering or appearing all at once. Often used with いる or 来る. Sense 2 (plentifully) is a natural extension of the crowd sense.
観光客がわんさと押し寄せた。
Tourists came flooding in in great numbers.
公園には子供たちがわんさといた。
The park was swarming with children.
noun
minor actress; bit-part actress; female extra
Dated colloquial abbreviation of わんさガール, referring to a female extra or bit-part actress in film or TV. Rarely used today.
See also: わんさガール
昔の映画では、わんさが大勢エキストラとして出演していた。
In old movies, many minor actresses appeared as extras.
The origin is uncertain. It may be a sound-symbolic word (mimetic) evoking a bustling, swarming image. The dated noun sense is an abbreviation of わんさガール.