Etymology Dictionary

PACK,  a bundle, burden, set of cards or hounds, &c. (C.)   M. E. pakke, P. Plowman, B. xiii. 201; pl. packes, Ancren Riwle, p. 166, last line.   Cf. Icel. pakki, a pack, bundle; Dan. pakke; Swed. packa; Du. pak; G. pack.   β. But it does not appear to be a true Teutonic word; few Teutonic words begin with p.   It is rather a survival of an O. Celtic pak, still preserved in Gael. pac, a pack, a mob (cf. E. pack of rascals), pac, verb, to pack up; Irish pac, pacadh, a pack, pacaigim, I pack up; Bret. pak, a pack; cf. W. baich, a burden.   γ. And these words, in accordance with Grimm's law, may fairly be considered as allied to Lat. pangere, to fasten, Skt. paç, to bind, Skt. páça, a tie, band.—✔PAK, to fasten; see Pact.   Thus the orig. sense is 'that which is tied up.'   Der. pack, verb, M. E. pakken, P. Plowman, B. xv. 184; pack-er, pack-horse, 2 Hen. IV, ii. 4. 177; pack-ing; pack-man; pack-needle or pack-ing-needle, M. E. pakkenedle or paknedle, P. Plowman, B. v. 212; pack-saddle, Cor. ii. I. 99; pack-thread, Romeo, v. I. 47.   Also pack-age, q.v., pack-et, q.v.   ➩ Quite distinct from bag. [†]

ADDENDA

Perhaps not (C.), but (L.).  This can hardly be of ultimate Celtic origin, as the initial Aryan p is lot in the Old Celtic languages.   In Teutonic, p is also extremely scarce as an initial letter.   Hence, we are led to suppose that the word is really of Latin origin, although the Low Lat. paccus is not found early.   The ✔PAK, to fasten, is, however, well represented in Latin, and it seems reasonable to refer the word to this root.