Bag
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Mormegil
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 221801652 by [[Special:Contributions/65.7.228.96|65.7.228.96]] ([[User talk:65.7.228.96|talk]])
{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}}
{{dablink|"Paper bag" redirects here. For other uses, see [[Bag (disambiguation)]] and [[Paper bag (disambiguation)]].}}
[[Image:Kulturbeutel1.jpg|thumb|Wash bag]]
[[Image:Militärbrotbeutel M1931 (German bread bag).jpg|thumb|German military bread bag]]
A '''bag''' (also known as a [[sack]]) is a non-[[Stiffness|rigid]] or semi-rigid container, made of [[paper]], [[cloth]], [[plastic]], [[leather]], or some other flexible material.
A bag is used for [[packaging]] and/or carrying items. For the latter a bag may have one or two [[Handle (grip)|handles]]; a [[shoulder bag]] has a strap to carry it on the [[shoulder]] (the bag is either carried on the side of the shoulder carrying it, or the other side). A [[rucksack]] has straps to carry it on the back. There is also be a string bag, with two strings which go over the shoulder and can be used as the fastening as well.
A bag may be closable by a [[zipper]], [[snap fastener]], etc., or simply by folding (e.g. in the case of a paper bag). Sometimes a [[money]] bag or travel bag has a [[Lock (device)|lock]]. ''[[Sachet]]s'' may be fabric bags that are filled with [[pot pourri]] and tied off with [[ribbon]]s.
A bag may or may not be [[disposable]]; however, even a disposable bag can often be used many times, not only for economic but also for environmental reasons. On the other hand there may be logistic or hygienic reasons to use a bag only once. For example, a [[garbage bag]] is often disposed of with its content. A bag for packaging a disposable product is often disposed of when it is empty.
An empty bag may or may not be very light and foldable to a small size. If it is, this is convenient for carrying it to the place where it is needed, such as a shop, and for storage of empty bags.
Bags vary from small ones, like [[purse]]s (e.g. as an alternative to putting small objects in [[pocket]]s of [[clothing]]) to large ones for use in [[travel]]ing like a [[suitcase]].
Cheap [[disposable]] paper bags and [[plastic shopping bag]]s are very common in the retail trade as a convenience for [[shopping|shoppers]], and are often supplied by the shop for free or for a small [[fee]]. Customers may also take their own shopping bags to the shop.
The word probably has its origins in the [[Old Norse language|Norse]] word ''baggi''[http://www.sprakrad.no]. Although paper had been used for purposes of wrapping and padding in [[ancient China]] since the 2nd century BC,<ref name="needham volume 4 122">Needham, Volume 4, 122.</ref> the first use of paper bags (for preserving the flavor of [[tea]]) in China came during the later [[Tang Dynasty]] ([[618]]-[[907]] AD).<ref name="needham volume 4 122"/>
There are environmental concerns regarding use and disposal of plastic shopping and trash bags. Efforts are being taken to control and reduce their use in some [[European Union]] countries, including [[Ireland]] and the [[Netherlands]]. In some cases the cheap bags are taxed so the customer must pay a fee where they may not have done previously. Sometimes heavy duty reusable plastic and fabric bags are sold, typically costing €0.5 to €1, and these may replace disposable bags entirely. Sometimes free replacements are offered when the bag wears out. A notable exception to this trend is the [[UK]], where disposable plastic bags are still freely available and are dominant.
==References==
{{refs}}
* [[Joeseph Needham|Needham, Joseph]] (1986). ''Science and Civilization Duh China: Volume 4, Part 1''. Taipei: [[Cave Books]], Ltd. ISBN 9780521087322
==See also==
* [[Airbag]]
* [[Backpack]]
* [[Bag knot]]
* [[Baggage]]
* [[Bin bag]]
* [[Burlap|Burlap sack]]
* [[Burn bag]]
* [[Duffel bag]]
* [[Holdall]]
* [[Bag (mathematics)|Mathematical bag]]
* [[Messenger bag]]
* [[Packaging]]
* [[Plastic bag]]
* [[Plastic shopping bag]]
* [[Paper Bag Records]]
* [[Punching Bag]] / [[Heavy Bag]]
* [[Purse|Handbag]] ([[British English]]) / [[Purse]] ([[US English]]) a ''clutch bag'' is a type of purse
* [[Shopping]]
* [[Sleeping bag]]
* [[Tea bag]]
* [[Tote bag]]
* [[Trash bag]]
* [[Travel bag]]
{{Commonscat|Bags}}
[[Category:Bags]]
[[Category:Packaging]]
[[gn:Vosa]]
[[de:Tüte]]
[[es:Bolsa de papel]]
[[eo:Sako]]
[[fr:Sac]]
[[hi:थैला]]
[[it:Borsa (oggetto)]]
[[lt:Rankinė]]
[[nl:Tas (voorwerp)]]
[[ja:鞄]]
[[nrm:Pouque]]
[[pl:Torba (worek)]]
[[ru:Мешок]]
[[simple:Bag]]
[[sr:Кеса]]
[[fi:Laukku]]
[[sv:Väska]]
[[yi:בעג]]
[[tr:çanta]]