Backpack vs. Knapsack

Backpacknoun

A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person’s back for the purpose of carrying things, especially when hiking, or on a student's back when carrying books.

Backpacknoun

A similarly placed item containing a parachute or other life-support equipment.

Backpackverb

(intransitive) to hike and camp overnight in backcountry with one's gear carried in a backpack

Backpackverb

(intransitive) to engage in low-cost, generally urban, travel with minimal luggage and frugal accommodations

Backpackverb

(transitive) to place or carry (an item or items) in a backpack

Backpacknoun

a bag carried on the back, supported by straps looped over the shoulders.

Backpackverb

to hike while carrying a backpack; - often used in the form go backpacking; as, to backpack through the forest.

Backpacknoun

a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder

Backpackverb

hike with a backpack;

Backpack

A backpack—also called knapsack, rucksack, rucksac, pack, sackpack, booksack, bookbag or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but it can have an external frame, internal frame, and there are bodypacks. Backpacks are commonly used by hikers and students, and are often preferred to handbags for carrying heavy loads or carrying any sort of equipment, because of the limited capacity to carry heavy weights for long periods of time in the hands.

Knapsacknoun

(US) A case of canvas or leather, for carrying items on the back.

Knapsacknoun

(cryptography) A set of values from which a subset is chosen.

Knapsackverb

To go hiking while burdened with a knapsack, usually overnight or for longer.

Knapsacknoun

A case of canvas, leather, nylon, or other sturdy fabric, fitted with straps, for carrying on the back the food, clothing, or other supplies for a soldier or a traveler; as, to hike up the mountain with lunch in a knapsack.

Knapsacknoun

a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder