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A duffel bag, duffle bag, or kit bag is a large bag made of natural or synthetic fabric (typically canvas), historically with a top closure using a drawstring.[1] Generally a duffel bag is used by non-commissioned personnel in the military, and for travel, sports and recreation by civilians.[2] When used by sailors or marines a duffel is known as a seabag. A duffel's open structure and lack of rigidity makes it adaptable to carrying sports gear and similar bulky objects.
A duffel bag is often confused with a hoop-handled hard-bottomed zippered bag, known generically as a gym bag.
History
The name comes from Duffel,[3] a town in Flanders, Belgium, where the thick duffel cloth used to make the bag originated in the 17th century.[4] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word dates back to 1677, used to describe ‘a coarse woollen cloth having a thick nap or frieze’. In most of the 20th century, a duffel bag typically referred to a specific style of cylindrical, top-entry bag. During the latter part the term began to be applied to a generic hoop-handled, hard-bottomed fabric holdall more commonly known as a "gym bag". It is to this bag that additional features such as wheels, zippers, internal structure, and small organizing pockets are often added.
See also
- Duffel Blog, a satirical military website
- Duffel coat
- Hockey bag
- Hold-all
References
- ^ "Definition of DUFFEL BAG". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
- ^ "Top 5 Best Ways to Use Duffel Bags". Overstock.com Tips & Ideas. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
- ^ "Duffel". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Best Duffel Bags
External links
Media related to Duffel bags at Wikimedia Commons
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