n. & v.
n. 1 a receptacle of flexible material with an opening at the top. 2 a (usu. in pl.) a piece of luggage (put the bags in the boot). b a woman's handbag. 3 (in pl.; usu. foll. by of) colloq. a large amount; plenty (bags of time). 4 (in pl.) Brit. colloq. trousers. 5 sl. derog. a woman, esp. regarded as unattractive or unpleasant. 6 an animal's sac containing poison, honey, etc. 7 an amount of game shot by a sportsman. 8 (usu. in pl.) baggy folds of skin under the eyes. 9 sl. a person's particular interest or preoccupation, esp. in a distinctive style or category of music (his bag is Indian music).
v. (bagged, bagging) 1 tr. put in a bag. 2 tr. colloq. a secure; get hold of (bagged the best seat). b colloq. steal. c shoot (game). d (often in phr. bags I) Brit. colloq. claim on grounds of being the first to do so (bagged first go; bags I go first). 3 a intr. hang loosely; bulge; swell. b tr. cause to do this. 4 tr. Austral. sl. criticize, disparage. bag and baggage with all one's belongings. bag lady US a homeless woman who carries her possessions around in shopping bags. bag (or whole bag) of tricks colloq. everything; the whole lot. in the bag colloq. achieved; as good as secured. bagful n. (pl. -fuls).
[ ME, perh. f. ON baggi ]