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 | sack |
| 5 | Middle English | sak | bag, sackcloth |
| 6 | Old English | sacc | sack, bag |
| 7 | Old English | sæcc | battle, strife, fighting |
| 8 | Proto-West Germanic | sakku | — |
| 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... |
Words derived from “knapsack”