First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1sack
noun \ˈsak\
Definition of SACK
1
: a usually rectangular-shaped bag (as of paper, burlap, or canvas)
2
: the amount contained in a sack; especially : a fixed amount of a commodity used as a unit of measure
3
a : a woman's loose-fitting dress b : a short usually loose-fitting coat for women and children c : sacque 2
4
: dismissal <gave him the sack>
6
: a base in baseball
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Origin of SACK
Middle English sak bag, sackcloth, from Old English sacc, from Latin saccus bag & Late Latin saccus sackcloth, both from Greek sakkos bag, sackcloth, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew śaq bag, sackcloth
2sack
transitive verb
Definition of SACK
1
: to put in or as if in a sack
2
: to dismiss especially summarily
3
: to tackle (the quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage in football
— sack·er noun
First Known Use of SACK
14th century
3sack
noun
Definition of SACK
: any of several white wines imported to England from Spain and the Canary Islands during the 16th and 17th centuries
Origin of SACK
modification of Middle French sec dry, from Latin siccus; probably akin to Old High German sīhan to filter, Sanskrit siñcati he pours
First Known Use: circa 1532
4sack
transitive verb
Definition of SACK
1
: to plunder (as a town) especially after capture
Origin of SACK
5sack
First Known Use: circa 1547
Synonym Discussion of SACK
ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying. ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction <a hurricane ravaged the coast>. devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area <an earthquake devastated the city>. waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action <years of drought had wasted the area>. sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place <barbarians sacked ancient Rome>. pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack <settlements pillaged by Vikings>. despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction <the Nazis despoiled the art museums>.
5sack
noun
Definition of SACK
: the plundering of a captured town
Origin of SACK
Middle French sac, from Old Italian sacco, literally, bag, from Latin saccus
First Known Use: 1549
SACK Defined for Kids
1sack
noun \ˈsak\
2sack
verb
sackedsack·ing
Definition of SACK for Kids
1
: to put into a sack <When Mr. Hardly finished sacking my things, I paid the bill … — Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust>
2
: to fire from a job or position
3sack
verb
sackedsack·ing
Definition of SACK for Kids
: to loot after capture : plunder <The invading army sacked the city.>
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