1
Stage 1 of 3
Knapsack
German · 1500s
"a soldier's food bag"
Low German compound of 'knappen' (to snap, to eat) and 'Sack' (bag) — literally an 'eating bag'
2
Stage 2 of 3
knapzak
Dutch · 1500s-1600s
"a food or travel bag carried on the back"
parallel form current alongside the Low German word as it spread through trading and military contacts
3
Stage 3 of 3
knapsack
English · c. 1600
"a bag carried on the back for supplies"
adopted directly for a soldier's or traveler's pack
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom