knapsack

noun

knap·​sack ˈnap-ˌsak 

plural knapsacks

: a bag (as of canvas or nylon) strapped on the back and used for carrying supplies or personal belongings : backpack sense 1a(2)

But the 12-year-olds were dumping landslides of books into knapsacks and getting ready to leave, and all I could do was follow them out through the turnstiles and into the start of another summer.

—Meg Wolitzer

He had a Polaroid camera around his neck and a knapsack on his back.

—Brian Selznick

knapsacked

ˈnap-ˌsakt 

adjective

Synonyms

• backpack
• kit bag
• pack
• packsack
• rucksack

Examples of knapsack in a Sentence

grabbed my knapsack from the hook and ran to catch my ride

Recent Examples on the Web

The small knapsack is made from a lightweight, technical material with a water-resistant coating and anti-wrinkle properties to maintain a more professional look. —Christina Liao, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

The Roam was the first dedicated portable device that Sonos decided should get Bluetooth (there not being much Wi-Fi in the middle of the woods or at a lake) so that listeners could snag a single Sonos product for both their kitchen and knapsack. —Parker Hall, WIRED, 20 July 2024

One of those unfortunates is the movie’s protagonist, Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), a young Black man who is cycling into town, a knapsack on his back, in order to put up bail for a cousin. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Ms. Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. —Philipp-Moritz Jenne, Stefanie Dazio, and Kirsten Grieshaber, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Low German knappsack or Dutch knapzak, from Low German & Dutch knappen to make a snapping noise, eat + Low German sack or Dutch zak sack

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

knapsack

noun

knap·​sack ˈnap-ˌsak 

: a carrying case or pouch slung from the shoulders over the back