n. & v.
n. 1 a a large strong bag, usu. made of hessian, paper, or plastic, for storing or conveying goods. b (usu. foll. by of) this with its contents (a sack of potatoes). c a quantity contained in a sack. 2 (prec. by the) colloq. dismissal from employment. 3 (prec. by the) US sl. bed. 4 a a woman's short loose dress with a sacklike appearance. b archaic or hist. a woman's loose gown, or a silk train attached to the shoulders of this. 5 a man's or woman's loose-hanging coat not shaped to the back.
v.tr. 1 put into a sack or sacks. 2 colloq. dismiss from employment. sack race a race between competitors in sacks up to the waist or neck. sackful n. (pl. -fuls). sacklike adj.
[ OE sacc f. L saccus f. Gk sakkos, of Semitic orig. ]