Word forms: duffels A duffel is the same as a duffel bag. A duffel is the same as a duffel coat.
Why is a duffel bag called a duffel bag?
Duffel bags (also called duffle bags) are named after the town where their thick cloth was originally made. The town of Duffel is in Belgium, near Antwerp, and its production of the bag's coarse, woolen cloth dates back to the mid-17th century.
Duffle is an English corruption of the original word and although both spellings are still in use, duffel has been the preferred spelling since the Second World War.
What does Duff mean slang?
Standing for designated ugly fat friend, duff is a rude, though often humorous term people use for that one friend who makes you look better.
Poet E.E. Cummings is credited with officially coining the term "duffle bag" during World War II. The bags commonly used during this period were long, cylindrical bags closed with a drawstring rope. These "doughboy duffle bags" mostly carried military supplies.
What is the difference between a gym bag and a duffel bag?
In most of the 20th century, a duffel bag typically referred to a specific style of cylindrical, top-entry bag. During the latter part the term began to be applied to a generic hoop-handled, hard-bottomed fabric holdall more commonly known as a "gym bag".
What is duffel made of?
A duffel bag, duffle bag, or kit bag is a large bag made of either natural or synthetic fabric (typically canvas), historically with a top closure using a drawstring.