What does duffel mean?
A duffel is a large, soft-sided bag — usually cylindrical, made of canvas or other sturdy fabric, and closed with a drawstring or zipper — used for hauling clothes, sports equipment, or military gear. In modern usage the word rarely stands alone: it typically appears in the compound "duffel bag," alongside variants like "kit bag" (British), "holdall," or the American military's "sea bag." Less commonly, "duffel" refers to the coarse woolen cloth from which such bags and coats were historically cut, a material that gives us the related "duffel coat." Both the word and the object trace their name to Duffel, a town in Belgium where the fabric was once produced. The alternate spelling "duffle" is fully accepted. Informal but not slangy, the word carries practical, utilitarian connotations — evoking travel, athletics, and the armed services rather than luxury.
A large cylindrical bag of canvas or similar fabric, closed with a drawstring or zipper, used especially for carrying clothes and equipment.
"Her duffel was so full she could barely zip it shut."
Usually encountered in the compound form "duffel bag."
A coarse, thick woolen fabric, originally produced in Duffel, Belgium, and used for coats and bags.
"The tailor recommended a heavy duffel for the winter overcoat."
This sense is now chiefly historical; most speakers know the fabric only through "duffel coat."
Standard regular plural, used when referring to more than one bag or, less commonly, bolts or quantities of the cloth.
"The team piled their duffels into the back of the van."
The humble duffel bag is named after a small Belgian town — Duffel — where the heavy woolen fabric it was first sewn from was produced in the 1600s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of duffel
"Duffel" derives its name from Duffel, a town in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, where a coarse, durable woolen cloth of the same name was manufactured from at least the 17th century onward. English adopted the term for both the fabric itself and for goods made from it; by the 19th century, "duffel bag" had become established for the roomy drawstring sacks favored by sailors, soldiers, and travelers. The spelling "duffle" arose as a variant and remains standard in some dictionaries.
Related word forms
How duffel is actually used
In everyday use, "duffel" almost always appears as a modifier in "duffel bag." The spelling "duffle" is equally acceptable. As a standalone noun meaning the woolen cloth itself is now rare and mostly historical; the word is informal to neutral in register.
Easily confused with duffel
"Duffle" is simply an accepted spelling variant of "duffel," referring to the same bag or cloth; neither spelling changes the meaning.