Etymology

backpack

B3A1C3K5P3A1C3K5

Today it means: A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person’s back for the purpose of carrying things, especially when hiking, or on a student's back when carrying books. Full definition →

English pack ← Middle English pak ← Middle Dutch pakbor.?
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeg-der.?
  2. Proto-Germanic*baką
  3. Proto-West Germanic*bak
  4. Old Englishbæc
  5. Middle Englishbak
  6. Englishback
  7. Proto-Germanic*pakkô
  8. Proto-West Germanic*pakkō
  9. Old English*pæcca?
  10. Proto-West Germanic*pakkō
  11. Old Dutch*pakko
  12. Middle Dutchpakbor.?
  13. Middle Englishpak
  14. Englishpack
  15. English todaybackpack

From back + pack. First attested in 1896.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.