knap·sack

(năp′săk′)

A bag made of sturdy material and furnished with shoulder straps, designed for carrying articles on the back.

[Probably Low German Knappsack : knappen, to bite (probably of imitative origin) + Sack, bag (from Middle Low German sak, from Old High German sac, from Late Latin saccus; see sack¹).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

knapsack

(ˈnæpˌsæk)

a canvas or leather bag carried strapped on the back or shoulder

[C17: from Low German knappsack, probably from knappen to bite, snap + sack bag; related to Dutch knapzak; see sack¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

knap•sack

(ˈnæpˌsæk)

n.

a canvas, nylon, or leather bag for clothes or other supplies, carried on the back by soldiers, hikers, etc.

[1595–1605; < Low German knappsack=knapp a bite (of food) + sack sack¹]

haversack, knapsack, rucksack - Haversack is from German Haber, "oats," and Sack, "bag, sack"; knapsack is from German knapper, "to bite (food)" and zak, "sack"; rucksack comes from German Rucken, "back," and sack.

knapsack

[ˈnæpsæk] N (= small rucksack) → mochila f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

knapsack

[ˈnæpsæk] n → musette f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

knapsack

n → Proviantbeutel m, → Tornister m (esp Mil), → Knappsack m (old)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

knapsack

[ˈnæpˌsæk] n (rucksack) → zainetto; (shoulder bag) → tascapane m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

knapsack

(ˈnӕpsӕk) noun

a small bag for food, clothes etc slung on the back.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had been to the wars and was now returning home.

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He carried a knapsack, like a gentleman on a pedestrian excursion; his manners were pleasant; and he was decidedly good-looking.

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He unstrapped his knapsack, put it, with his stick, on the hedge-bank, and opened the gate.

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With an old sheepskin knapsack at his back, and a rough, unbarked stick cut out of some wood in his hand; miry, footsore, his shoes and gaiters trodden out, his hair and beard untrimmed; the cloak he carried over his shoulder, and the clothes he wore, sodden with wet; limping along in pain and difficulty; he looked as if the clouds were hurrying from him, as if the wail of the wind and the shuddering of the grass were directed against him, as if the low mysterious plashing of the water murmured at him, as if the fitful autumn night were disturbed by him.

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"By Heaven, I will take stick and knapsack and walk right away from my own front door, right away where the road leads, and see what happens.

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And not only externally was all in order, but had it pleased the commander in chief to look under the uniforms he would have found on every man a clean shirt, and in every knapsack the appointed number of articles, "awl, soap, and all," as the soldiers say.

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Early in the morning Partridge appeared at the bedside of Jones, ready equipped for the journey, with his knapsack at his back.

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Before she had started on the journey Dorothy had packed a knapsack with the things she might need, and this knapsack the Scarecrow carried strapped to his back.

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This done, he turns to his wardrobe, selects a few articles of ordinary wear--among them, change of stout shoes and socks for walking--and packs these in a knapsack. This knapsack is new, and he bought it in the High Street yesterday.

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I snatched my liquor flask from my knapsack, but the woman forbade me, and said:

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Meantime the knapsacks, the rough walking-suits and the stout walking-shoes which we had ordered, were finished and brought to us.

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They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night.

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