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gunnysack

Other forms: gunnysacks

A gunnysack is a large reusable bag, usually made of burlap — a coarse, heavy fabric — that's used for storing or moving goods. A small-scale potato farmer might use gunnysacks for hauling potatoes after harvesting them.

The word gunnysack, coined in the 19th century, comes from the Sanskrit root goni, or "sack." Although most farmers no longer use gunnysacks to transport their crops, potato growers in Idaho still use the word sack as a basic unit of measurement. Alternate names for the gunnysack reflect the various uses for it: In Australia they were called "sugar bags," and they're also known as "potato sacks" and "coffee bags."

Definitions of gunnysack
  1. noun
    a bag made of burlap
    synonyms: burlap bag, gunny sack
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bag
    a flexible container with a single opening
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