duffel bag

noun

1. a large, cylindrical bag, especially of canvas, for carrying personal belongings, orginally used by military personnel.

duffel bag

noun

1. a cylindrical drawstring canvas bag, originally used esp by sailors for carrying personal articles

Word History and Origins

Origin of duffel bag¹

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Example Sentences

They dumped the contents of duffel bags, backpacks and plastic bins onto the beds.

From Washington Post

A dumbbell, kettlebell, or even a loaded duffel bag or suitcase will work.

From Outside Online

By the time I got to Germany, I had only one backpack and a duffel bag.

From Ozy

She brought a duffel bag, the clothes she was wearing and little else to a place that was almost entirely new to her.

From Washington Post

They picked up a duffel bag of $600,000, the largest ransom ever paid at that point, and promised to return the boy safely to his family.

From Washington Post

Within a navy blue duffel bag were clattering bone-hued beads, amulets, and bracelets.

From The Daily Beast

A man walked into a Georgia school with an AK-47 and a duffel bag full of ammunition.

From The Daily Beast

He had a small duffel bag full of his personal belongings when he was flown to France.

From The Daily Beast

His mother would come back from overseas trips with a duffel bag stuffed with research, which he would dutifully carry upstairs.

From The Daily Beast

Burgess later told authorities he stuffed her body in a duffel bag and tossed it into the sea.

From The Daily Beast

"Have a clean pair in your duffel bag; then you won't have to go home for 'em, 'Rion," advised Tunis.

From Project Gutenberg

He grinned and carefully folded his tattered peasant clothes and put them in the duffel bag.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside the duffel bag Dave found his prize: a spare uniform of the owner, who was perhaps dead or maybe hundreds of miles away.

From Project Gutenberg

He fumbled through the rest of the duffel bag in the hope of finding the officer's Luger.

From Project Gutenberg

When you return from a trip, turn your duffel bag upside down on the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backpack
• briefcase
• carry-on
• handbag
• knapsack
• pouch
• suitcase