pannier

[ pan-yer, -ee-er ]

noun

1. a basket, especially a large one, for carrying goods, provisions, etc.
2. a basket for carrying on a person's back, or one of a pair to be slung across the back of a beast of burden.
3. a similar type of bag, usually one of a pair, fastened over a bicycle's rear wheel.
4. (on a dress, skirt, etc.) a puffed arrangement of drapery at the hips.
5. an oval framework formerly used for distending the skirt of a woman's dress at the hips.

pannier

/ ˈpænɪə /

noun

1. a large basket, esp one of a pair slung over a beast of burden
2. one of a pair of bags slung either side of the back wheel of a motorcycle, bicycle, etc
3. esp in the 18th century
   1. a hooped framework to distend a woman's skirt
   2. one of two puffed-out loops of material worn drawn back onto the hips to reveal the underskirt

Other Words From

• panniered adjective
• un·panniered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pannier¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English panier, from Middle French, from Latin pānārium “breadbasket,” equivalent to pān(is) “bread” + -ārium noun and adjective suffix; -ary, -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of pannier¹

C13: from Old French panier, from Latin pānārium basket for bread, from pānis bread

Example Sentences

She pulls out another item from her pannier, which she's modified herself.

From BBC

My new friend Jacko snorted and threw his head to the side to watch as I carefully packed my camera gear into the panniers secured to his back.

From New York Times

The rental agent listened to my concerns and matched me with the Harley Heritage Softail, a thinking man’s bagger with leather panniers, weighing in at a mincing and elegant 700 pounds.

From New York Times

Watering and feeding were followed by saddling and attaching the panniers, a process we soon realized created more than a physical attachment.

From Washington Post

The panniers, which resembled the trays that cigarette girls carried, bounced as they walked.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dress
• kilt
• petticoat
• sarong