haversack

haversack
\ \ [18] Etymologically, a haversack is a ‘bag for oats’. The word comes via French havresac from German habersack, a compound formed from the now dialectal haberoats’ and sackbag’. This denoted originally a bag used in the army for feeding oats to horses, but by the time it reached English it had broadened out to a ‘bag for soldiers’ provisions’, carried over the shoulders (northern dialects of English, incidentally, had the term haver for ‘oats’, probably borrowed from Old Norse hafri, and related forms are still widespread among the Germanic languages, including German hafer, Dutch haver, and Swedish and Danish havre. It has been speculated that the word is related to Latin caper and Old Norse hafrgoat’, in which case it would mean etymologically ‘goat’s food’).

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Haversack — Hav er*sack (h[a^]v [ e]r*s[a^]k), n. [F. havresac, G. habersack, sack for oats. See 2d {Haver}, and {Sack} a bag.] [1913 Webster] 1. A bag for oats or oatmeal. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] 2. A bag or case, usually of stout cloth, in which a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • haversack — (n.) 1749, from Fr. havresac (1670s), from Low Ger. hafersach cavalry trooper s bag for horse provender, lit. oat sack, from the common Germanic word for oat (see HAVER (Cf. haver) (1) + SACK (Cf. sack) (n.1)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • haversack — ► NOUN ▪ a small, stout bag carried on the back or over the shoulder. ORIGIN obsolete German Habersack, denoting a bag used to carry oats as horse feed, from dialect Haber oats + Sack sack, bag …   English terms dictionary

  • haversack — [hav′ər sak΄] n. [Fr havresac < Ger habersack, lit., sack of oats < haber (now hafer < LowG), akin to E dial. haver, oats (? orig. “goat food” < IE base * kapro > L caper, goat) + Ger sack, SACK1] a canvas bag for carrying rations …   English World dictionary

  • Haversack — A haversack is a bag, carried by a single shoulder strap. Although similar to a backpack the single shoulder strap differentiates this type from normal backpacks.In Australia, the word haversack is often used to describe any backpack …   Wikipedia

  • haversack — UK [ˈhævə(r)ˌsæk] / US [ˈhævərˌsæk] noun [countable] Word forms haversack : singular haversack plural haversacks British old fashioned a large bag that you carry on your back or over one shoulder, for example when you go walking or camping …   English dictionary

  • haversack — [18] Etymologically, a haversack is a ‘bag for oats’. The word comes via French havresac from German habersack, a compound formed from the now dialectal haber ‘oats’ and sack ‘bag’. This denoted originally a bag used in the army for feeding oats… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • haversack — [[t]hæ̱və(r)sæk[/t]] haversacks N COUNT A haversack is a canvas bag that is usually worn over one shoulder. [mainly BRIT] …   English dictionary

  • haversack — noun Etymology: French havresac, from German Habersack bag for oats, from Haber oats + Sack bag Date: 1749 a bag similar to a knapsack but worn over one shoulder …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • haversack — /hav euhr sak /, n. 1. a single strapped bag worn over one shoulder and used for carrying supplies. 2. a soldier s bag for rations, extra clothing, etc. [1740 50; earlier havresack < F havresac < G Habersack, equiv. to Haber oats (cf. dial. E… …   Universalium

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