An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pack

by Friedrich Kluge

Pack, m. and n., ‘pack, bundle,’ to which late MidHG. backen, packen, ‘to pack up, load,’ is allied; it is connected with a ModTeut. and Rom. class. the source of which has not yet been discovered; comp. Du. pak, Scand. pakke, MidE. packe, E. pack; Ital. pacco, Fr. paquet, &c.; also Ir. and Gael. pac, Bret. pak, which some regarded as the origin of the cognates, though others refer them, with greater probability, to OIc. bagge, ‘burden.’ —

Pack, n., ‘rabble,’ is LG., and is historically identical with Pack, ‘bundle.’