luggage definition

English

Etymology

1590s, lug (“to drag”) +‎ -age, literally “that which is lugged, dragged around”.^[1] Duplicate -g- is to clarify pronunciation of the vowel ‘u’ (which is pronounced unchanged from lug). Compare baggage.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: lŭg'ĭj, IPA^(key): /ˈlʌɡɪd͡ʒ/

  • Audio (UK)

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• Rhymes: -ʌɡɪdʒ
• Hyphenation: lug‧gage

Noun

luggage (usually uncountable, plural luggages)

1. (uncountable) The bags and other containers that hold a traveller's belongings.
   • August 4, 1726, Jonathan Swift, letter to Alexander Pope

     I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey.

2. (uncountable) The contents of such containers.
3. (countable, nonstandard or obsolete) A specific bag or container holding a traveller's belongings.
   • 1858, “Letter from Rev. George L. Seymour”, in The African Repository and Colonial Journal, volume 34, page 13:

     I assisted some time ago in cutting up a tree, that made tolerably good turns or luggages for nineteen or twenty persons, which could be procured for about two dollars at the stump.

   • 1875, W. G. Willson, Report of the Midnapore and Burdwan Cyclone of the 15th and 16th of October 1874‎^[1]:

     The passengers injured who could not get out were removed out by the railway staff, and then taking part of the luggages the train started back for Burdwan.

   • 2012, Colin MacInnes, City of Spades‎^[2]:

     Namely, leaving my luggages at the Government hostel, to go straight out by taxi (oh, so slow, compared with our sleek Lagos limousines!) to the famous central Piccadilly Tube station where I took a onestop ticket, went down on the escalator, and then ran up the same steps in the wrong direction.

Synonyms

• baggage

Derived terms

• hold luggage
• cabin luggage
• carry-on luggage
• checked luggage
• hand luggage

Translations

References