Gripsacks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small bags designed to be held firmly in the hand or carried securely ; containers with handles used for carrying personal items or belongings ; compact portable sacks intended for easy grasping and transport
2. Handheld pouches meant for securely holding or transporting objects ; modest-sized carriers often equipped with straps for ease of carrying ; lightweight storage bags sized for personal convenience and portability
3. Compact receptacles crafted to be grasped easily and carried by hand ; small, convenient containers for personal effects ; portable pouches designed for firm hold and simple transportation

Etymology: "Gripsacks" is the plural of "gripsack", a compound of "grip" and "sack". The "grip" half is the older sense of a small handbag or hand-held bag, while "sack" here means a bag in the general sense, not the large cloth sack of later usage. Put together, the word names a bag that is gripped and carried in the hand. The compound records a practical need for portable luggage. Before wheeled suitcases became common, travellers relied on compact bags that could be hauled by a handle, and "gripsack" was one of the everyday names for them. The plural form simply refers to several of these bags at once, typically the modest carry-on pieces a traveller would tote alongside a larger trunk.

Synonyms: backpacks, knapsacks, rucksacks, daypacks, satchels