gunnysack

[ guhn-ee-sak ]

noun
  1. a sack made of gunny or burlap.

Origin of gunnysack

1
First recorded in 1860–65; gunny + sack1
  • Also called gun·ny-bag [guhn-ee-bag] /ˈgʌn iˌbæg/ .

regional variation note For gunnysack

Crocus sack, croker sack, grass sack, and towsack are widely used in Southern U.S. English as synonyms for gunnysack; crocus sack is used especially in the South Atlantic States and croker sack in the Gulf States, while grass sack and towsack are used especially in the South Midland United States. Barley sack is used in the Southwest, especially in California.

Words Nearby gunnysack

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gunnysack in a sentence

  • In my case, it didn’t settle gently like a leaf, it thudded down like a gunnysack of organ meat.

  • The Scarecrow's head was a gunnysack filled with bran, on which the eyes, nose and mouth had been painted.

    The Tin Woodman of Oz | L. Frank Baum
  • They ate only half, prudently putting the rest back in the gunnysack for future reference.

  • Now, lift that gunnysack to your saddle and tie it on behind.

    The Sheriff's Son | William MacLeod Raine
  • They came in last night after dark, after being gone in the interior for three weeks, carrying a gunnysack.

    Terry | Charles Goff Thomson
  • When ready for disarming, spread a burlap or gunnysack across your lap and order the assistant to bring the skunk.

    Practical Skunk Raising | William Edwin Pratt