From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pack \Pack\, n. [Akin to D. pak, G. pack, Dan. pakke, Sw. packa,
Icel. pakki, Gael. & Ir. pac, Arm. pak. Cf. {Packet}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a
bundle to be carried on the back; a load for an animal; a
bale, as of goods. --Piers Plowman.
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2. [Cf. {Peck}, n.] A number or quantity equal to the
contents of a pack; hence, a multitude; a burden. "A pack
of sorrows." "A pack of blessings." --Shak.
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Note: "In England, by a pack of meal is meant 280 lbs.; of
wool, 240 lbs." --McElrath.
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3. A group or quantity of connected or similar things; as, a
pack of lies; specifically:
(a) A full set of playing cards; a deck; also, the
assortment used in a particular game; as, a euchre
pack.
(b) A number of wolves, hounds or dogs, hunting or kept
together; as, a wolf pack.
(c) A number of persons associated or leagued in a bad
design or practice; a gang; as, a pack of thieves or
knaves.
(d) A shook of cask staves.
(e) A bundle of sheet-iron plates for rolling
simultaneously.
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4. A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together
more or less closely. --Kane.
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5. An envelope, or wrapping, of sheets used in hydropathic
practice, called {dry pack}, {wet pack}, {cold pack},
etc., according to the method of treatment.
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6. [Prob. the same word; but cf. AS. p[=ae]can to deceive.] A
loose, lewd, or worthless person. See {Baggage}. [Obs.]
--Skelton.
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7. (Med.) In hydropathic practice, a wrapping of blankets or
sheets called {dry pack}, {wet pack}, {cold pack}, etc.,
according to the condition of the blankets or sheets used,
put about a patient to give him treatment; also, the fact
or condition of being so treated.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
8. (Rugby Football) The forwards who compose one half of the
scrummage; also, the scrummage.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Pack animal}, an animal, as a horse, mule, etc., employed in
carrying packs.
{Pack and prime road} or {Pack and prime way}, a pack road or
bridle way.
{Pack cloth}, a coarse cloth, often duck, used in covering
packs or bales.
{Pack horse}. See {Pack animal} (above).
{Pack ice}. See def. 4, above.
{Pack moth} (Zool.), a small moth ({Anacampsis sarcitella})
which, in the larval state, is very destructive to wool
and woolen fabrics.
{Pack needle}, a needle for sewing with pack thread. --Piers
Plowman.
{Pack saddle}, a saddle made for supporting the load on a
pack animal. --Shak.
{Pack staff}, a staff for supporting a pack; a peddler's
staff.
{Pack train} (Mil.), a troop of pack animals.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
pack animal
n 1: an animal (such as a mule or burro or horse) used to carry
loads [syn: {pack animal}, {sumpter}]
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