sack
Dictionary
noun
- A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel.
- The amount a sack holds; also, an archaic or historical measure of varying capacity, depending on commodity type and according to local usage; an old English measure of weight, usually of wool, equal to 13 stone (182 pounds), or in other sources, 26 stone (364 pounds).
"The American sack of salt is 215 pounds; the sack of wheat, two bushels. — McElrath."
- The plunder and pillaging of a captured town or city.
"The sack of Rome."
- Loot or booty obtained by pillage.
- A successful tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. See verb sense4 below.
- One of the square bases anchored at first base, second base, or third base.
"He twisted his ankle sliding into the sack at second."
- Dismissal from employment, or discharge from a position, usually as give (someone) the sack or get the sack. See verb sense5 below.
"He got the sack for being late all the time."
- Bed; usually as hit the sack or in the sack. See also sack out.
- (also sacque) A kind of loose-fitting gown or dress with sleeves which hangs from the shoulders, such as a gown with a Watteau back or sack-back, fashionable in the late 17th to 18th century; or, formerly, a loose-fitting hip-length jacket, cloak or cape.
- A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
- The scrotum.
"He got passed the ball, but it hit him in the sack."
verb
- To put in a sack or sacks.
"Help me sack the groceries."
- To bear or carry in a sack upon the back or the shoulders.
- To plunder or pillage, especially after capture; to obtain spoils of war from.
"The barbarians sacked Rome."
- To tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, especially before he is able to throw a pass.
- To discharge from a job or position; to fire.
"He was sacked last September."
- In the phrase sack out, to fall asleep. See also hit the sack.
"The kids all sacked out before 9:00 on New Year’s Eve."
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