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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Pack

Păck, n.

noun

n. [L. & H. Ger. pack, D. pak, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa, pack, Icel. packi, baggi, Gael. pac, paca, Ir. pac, pacadh, allied to Gael. bag, balg, a bag, W. baich, Armor. beach, a burden or load, W. balleg, a purse; It. pacco, a pack, packet. Cf. BAG.]

Sense 1. A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; a bale; especially, a bundle made up to be carried on the back.

Sense 2. A burdensome load; as, a pack of sorrows. “A pack of blessings.” Shak.

☞ In this sense, corrupted into peck; as, a peck of troubles.

Sense 3. A number or quantity of connected or similar things; as, (a.) A set of playing cards; the cards used in a game. (b.) A number of hounds or dogs, hunting or kept together; that is, a crowd or assemblage united. (c.) A number of persons united in a bad design or practice; as, a pack of thieves or knaves.

Sense 4. A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together more or less closely. Kane.

Sense 5. (Hydropathy.) (a.) The act or process of enveloping in numerous coverings, especially when surrounded with a wet sheet. (b.) The state of being thus enveloped or wrapped up.

  1. [A-S. pæcan, to deceive.] A loose or lewd person; one who deceives by false appearances. [Obs.] Skelton.
  2. An agreement or contract; a pact. [Obs.]

It was found straight that this was a gross pack betwixt Saturninus and Marius. North. Was not a pack agreed 'twixt thee and me? Daniel.

Păck, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PACKED (păkt); p. pr. & vb. n. PACKING.] [Ger. packen, D. pakken, Dan. pakke, Sw. & Icel. packa. See supra.]

  1. To place together and prepare for transportation; to make up into a bundle or bale; hence, to assemble and compact together; to press into close order or narrow compass; as, to pack goods in a box; to pack fish. “A heap of strange materials packed up with wonderful art.” Addison.
  2. To fill or load, as that which is to contain or carry; to crowd into, or pile upon, in order to transportation; to make full; to stow away within; as, to pack a trunk.
  3. To put together, as cards, in such a manner as to secure the game unfairly; to sort and arrange fraudulently in card-playing. “And mighty dukes pack cards for half a crown.” Pope.
  4. Hence, to bring together unfairly and fraudulently for the attainment of some unjust end; to compose by iniquitous collusion; as, to pack a jury;—sometimes, to bring about, manage, or gain over, by unfair and fraudulent means.

The expected council was dwindling into . . . a packed assembly of Italian bishops. Atterbury. He lost his life . . . upon a nice point subtilely devised and packed by his enemies. Fuller.

  1. To send off; to dispatch; as, to pack a beggar off.
  2. (Hydropathy.) To envelop in numerous coverings, especially when surrounded with a wet sheet.
  3. (Mech.) To render impervious, or to fit or adjust so as to move without giving passage to air, water, or steam, by filling or surrounding with suitable materials; as, to pack a joint; to pack the piston of a steam-engine.

To send packing, to drive away; to send off roughly or in disgrace; to dismiss unceremoniously. “The Parliament, to their immortal honor, presently sent him packing.” South.

Păck, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To form things into packs or bundles; to make up bales or packages; to put up a thing closely.

  1. To admit of stowage; to allow of making up for transportation or storage; to become compressed or to settle together, or so as to form a compact mass; as, the goods pack conveniently; wet snow packs well; the sand packs in the drain.
  2. To unite in bad measures; to confederate for ill purposes; to join in collusion. “Go, pack with him.” Shak.
  3. To depart in haste; generally with off or away.

Poor Stella must pack off to town. Swift. You shall *pack, And never more darken my doors again.* Tennyson.