Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SACK, n.¹ [Sax. sæc, sacc; D. zak, sek; G. sack; Dan. sæk; Sw. säck; W. saç; Ir. sac; Corn. zah; Arm. sach; Fr. sac; It. sacco; Sp. saco, saca; Port. saco, sacco; L. saccus; Gr. σακκος; Hungarian, saak; Slav. shakel; Heb. שק. See the verb to sack.]

1. A bag, usually a large cloth bag, used for holding and conveying corn, small wares, wool, cotton, hops, and the like. Gen. xlii. Sack of wool, in England, is 22 stone of 14 lbs. each, or 308 pounds. In Scotland, it is 24 stone of 16 pounds each, or 384 pounds. A sack of cotton, contains usually about 300 lbs, but it may be from 150 to 400 pounds. Sack of earth, in fortification, is a canvas bag filled with earth, used in making retrenchments in haste. – Encyc.
2. The measure of three bushels. – Johnson.