knapsack
(ˈnæpsæk)
[a. LG. knapsack (Du. knapzak, G. knappsack), first recorded in 16th c. The first element is somewhat obscure, but is generally taken as LG. and Du. knappen = knap v.2, G. knapp eating, food; cf. also snapsack. Also adopted in F. (about 1600) as canapsa (now obs.).]
a. A bag or case of stout canvas or leather, worn by soldiers, strapped to the back and used for carrying necessaries; any similar receptacle used by travellers for carrying light articles.
| 1603 Drayton Bar. Wars i. (R.), Each one fills his knap⁓sack or his scrip With some rare thing that on the field is found. 1608 Capt. Smith True Relat. Wks. (Arb.) 20 One that vsually carried my Gowne and Knapsacke after me. 1645 Mass. Col. Rec. (1854) III. 40 Every souldier..with muskett, sword, bandaleers, and knapsacke. 1793 Burns Sodger's Return i, My humble knapsack a' my wealth, A poor but honest sodger. 1858 Lytton What will He do i. xix, He packed up his knapsack, and started for the train. 1868 Regul. & Orders Army §604 d, The havresack is to be worn on all occasions when the knapsack is worn. |
| fig. a 1658 Cleveland Char. Country-Comm.-man Wks. (1687) 76 A short-handed Clerk, tack'd to the Rear of him to carry the Knapsack of his Understanding. 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Nature Wks. (Bohn) I. 224 The knapsack of custom falls off his back. |
b. attrib. knapsack pump = knapsack sprayer;
knapsack sprayer (or
spray), a sprayer consisting of a hand-held nozzle supplied from a pressurized reservoir that is carried on the back like a knapsack.
| 1633 Shirley Yng. Admiral i. ii, Vittori. He is valiant truly That dares forget to be rewarded. Soldier. This Is but cold comfort for a knapsack-man. 1823 Crabb Technol. Dict. s.v. Drill, ‘Knapsack-Drill’, a sort of punishment for minor offences, which consists in marching soldiers round the barrack-yard, &c. for a certain time, with 6 or 12 lb. shot tied to their knapsacks. 1894 Country Gentlemen's Catal. 302/2 Vermorel's knapsack pumps. 1897 Sears Roebuck Catal. 162/3 The Celebrated Myers Knapsack Spray Pump. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 16 Nov. 12/2 An Oxford Bible..printed on Oxford India paper..and bound in khaki..will be known as the Knapsack Bible, and is specially designed for use by soldiers and sailors. 1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. s.v. sprayer, Knapsack sprayer. 1944 Living off Land vii. 153 Firefighting weapons are many and varied... The knapsack pump—a 4-gallon container with shoulder straps, brass hand pump and nozzle—is most effective. 1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Feb. 177/2 Obtaining complete coverage of tall [orchard] trees with a knapsack sprayer is most difficult. 1971 Community (E. Afr. Community) Apr. 8/1 The new method could well replace the present widespread use of knapsack sprayers which was considered inefficient in insecticide application. |
Hence
ˈknapsacking vbl. n. (
cf. coaching,
training), travelling with a knapsack;
ˈknapsackwise adv., in the manner of a knapsack.
| 1877 H. Drummond in G. A. Smith Life v. (1898) 115, I was glad to..go knapsacking with Professor Geikie. 1886 Ibid. xi. 269, I have often marked this spot in my knapsacking days. 1899 Blackw. Mag. Aug. 162/1 A large basket carried knapsackwise. |