early 15c., "in large quantities," from whole (adj.) + sale; the general sense of "extensive" is attested from 1640s. As a verb from 1800. Related: Wholesaling; wholesaler.
I can sell it to you wholesale
I buy food wholesale
wholesale destruction
whole
whole cloth
whole nine yards
wholehearted
wholeness
wholesale
wholesome
wholistic
wholly
whom
whomever