luggage

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyThe bags and other containers that hold a traveller's belongings.

   August 4, 1726, Jonathan Swift, letter to Alexander Pope I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey.

2. uncountableusuallyThe contents of such containers.
3. countablenonstandardobsoleteusuallyA specific bag or container holding a traveller's belongings.

   The passengers injured who could not get out were removed out by the railway staff, and then taking part of the luggage the train started back for Burdwan.

   1875, W. G. Willson, Report of the Midnapore and Burdwan Cyclone of the 15th and 16th of October 1874

   2 more examples

   I assisted some time ago in cutting up a tree, that made tolerably good turns or luggage for nineteen or twenty persons, which could be procured for about two dollars at the stump.

   1858, “Letter from Rev. George L. Seymour”, in The African Repository and Colonial Journal, volume 34, page 13

   Namely, leaving my luggages at the Government hostel, to go straight out by taxi (oh, so slow, compared with our sleek Lagos limousines!) to the famous central Piccadilly Tube station where I took a onestop ticket, went down on the escalator, and then ran up the same steps in the wrong direction.

   1964 [1957], Colin MacInnes, City of Spades, London: Penguin Books, page 15

In a sentence

August 4, 1726, Jonathan Swift, letter to Alexander Pope I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey.

Where it comes from

1590s, lug (“to drag”) + -age, literally “that which is lugged, dragged around”. Compare baggage.