Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PACK, v.t. [D. pakken; G. packen; Sw. packa; L. pango, pactum, pactus; impingo, compingo; Gr. πηγνυω, παχυς, πηγος; Dan. pagt, a covenant, a farm; hence dispatch, to send away. The sense is to send, to drive, whence to press, to make compact. Hence we say, to pack off, Sw. packa, that is, to depart with speed; Ar. 9بَك bakka, to be compressed, to press, Ch. אבק. Class Bg, No. 18. See also No. 33, 66, 32.]

1. To place and press together; to place in close order; as, to pack goods in a box or chest.
2. To put together and bind fast; as, to pack any thing for carriage with cords or straps.
3. To put in close order with salt intermixed; as, to pack meat or fish in barrels.
4. To send in haste. – Shak.
5. To put together, as cards, in such a manner as to secure the game; to put together in sorts with a fraudulent design, as cards; hence, to unite persons iniquitously, with a view to some private interest; as, to pack a jury, that is, to select persons for a jury who may favor a party; to pack a parliament; to pack an assembly of bishops. – Pope. Butler. Atterbury.