knapsack English · revision 1673

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈnæpsæk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|nds|Knappsack]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably from ''knappen'' “to eat”, literally “to crack, snap”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which is of imitative origin,^(AHD)^(Etymonline) and ''Sack'' “bag”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Compare [[nl|knapzak]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[sack]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A bag of stout canvas or leather worn on the back by soldiers to carry necessities (1603, or c. 1600 in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The bag was at first chiefly a soldier's,^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) but the word came to mean any similar bag carried on the back, as by hikers.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) ''Knapsacking'', travelling with a knapsack, is recorded from 1877.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1603 – a soldier's bag for the back.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1877 – ''knapsacking''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A bag of strong material with shoulder straps, carried on the back to hold supplies or belongings; a [[backpack]] or [[rucksack]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[knapsacked]]

+ * [[knapsack problem]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sack]]

+ * [[backpack]]

+ * [[rucksack]]

+ * [[haversack]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}