English

Noun

clothes bag ‎(plural clothes bags)

1. A sturdy bag for carrying and storing personal belongings, particularly those of military and naval personnel
   • 1841, Josiah Cobb, A Green Hand's Cruise, Boston: Otis, Broaders & Co., Vol. 1, Chapter IX, p. 134,

     Many like the Loafer, who had come off without losing all that was concealed about their persons, transferred the remains to their clothes bags so soon as opportunity offered, and sadly regretted they had not at first secreted the whole of their last night's gleanings in this safe place, made sacred by the high word of honour of England's commissioned officers.

   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 12,

     But after the little matter at the mess Billy Budd no more found himself in strange trouble at times about his hammock or his clothesbag or what not.

2. A protective bag for transporting garments hung on a hanger
   • 2014, Barbara Stuber, Girl in Reverse, New York: Simon & Schuster, Chapter 36, p. 295,

     I sit back on my heels, lost among Mother's cardigans and zippered clothes bags.

Alternative forms

• clothesbag
• clothes-bag

Synonyms

• (protective bag for garments on a hanger): garment bag