Etymology

knapsack

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Today it means: A case of canvas or leather, for carrying items on the back. Full definition →

Low German knapzak ← Dutch knapzak ← Middle Dutch cnappen
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The story

  1. Middle Dutch · derived fromcnappen“to bite with teeth”
  2. Dutch · derived fromknapzak
  3. Low German · derived fromknapzak
  4. English todayknapsack

From Low German knapzak or Dutch knapzak (older form cnapsack), from Middle Dutch cnappen (“to bite with teeth”), ultimately from knappen (“to eat, crack”), of imitative origin, + sack. German Knappsack is from Dutch.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.