First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
packet
noun pack·et \ˈpa-kət\
: a small, thin package
: a package in which something is sold and bought
: a group of things that have been gathered together for a particular purpose and usually put into a container (such as a folder or a large envelope)
Full Definition of PACKET
1
a : a small bundle or parcel b : a small thin package c British (1) : pay envelope (2) : salary, paycheck d chiefly British : a considerable amount <that trip will cost a packet>
2
a : a number of letters dispatched at one time b : a small group, cluster, or mass
3
: a passenger boat usually carrying mail and cargo
4
British : a pack of cigarettes
5
: a short fixed-length section of data that is transmitted as a unit in an electronic communications network
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Origin of PACKET
Middle English pekette, pakat, from Anglo-French pacquet, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch pak pack
PACKET Defined for Kids
packet
noun pack·et \ˈpa-kət\
Definition of PACKET for Kids
: a small package
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