Where does “knapsack” come from?
Knapsack comes from Low German knapzak, from Dutch zak meaning sack, from English sack, from English seck, from French sec, from Latin saccus, from Ancient Greek σάκκος, from Proto-Indo-European seyk-.
knapsack (English): A case of canvas or leather, for carrying items...
Definitions
- A case of canvas or leather, for carrying items...
Ancestry of “knapsack”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low German | knapzak | — |
| 2 | Dutch | knapzak | bindle or other food bag |
| 3 | Dutch | zak | a container made of textile, leather or paper... |
| 4 | English | Sack | A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel |
| 5 | Middle English | sak | bag, sackcloth |
| 6 | Old English | sacc | sack, bag |
| 7 | Old English | sæcc | battle, strife, fighting |
| 8 | Proto-West Germanic | sakku | sack, bag |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | sakkuz | sack, bag, purse |
| 10 | Latin | saccus | sack, bag; purse, wallet, moneybag; garment of... |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | σάκκος | sack; sackcloth; sackcloth vestment, penitential... |