What does feedbag mean?
A feedbag is a sturdy pouch, traditionally made of canvas or leather, that is strapped over a horse's muzzle so the animal can eat grain from it without scattering the feed on the ground. It allowed working horses to be fed efficiently while tethered to carts, wagons, or hitching posts, and remains familiar today largely through rural life, historical fiction, and equestrian practice. Beyond its literal meaning, the word has passed into informal English through the expression 'to strap on the feedbag,' a humorous way of saying one is about to eat a large or hearty meal. This figurative use gives the word a playful, slightly old-fashioned flavor. For learners, feedbag is a concrete, easily visualized noun whose slang extension makes it a colorful addition to casual conversation about food.
nounA canvas or leather bag attached to a horse's muzzle for feeding grain, allowing the animal to eat while tethered or standing.
- A bag, usually of canvas or leather, fastened over a horse's muzzle so it can eat grain without spilling it.
- Informal: an abundant meal or the act of eating heartily (as in the phrase 'strap on the feedbag').
"The stable hand slipped the feedbag over the mare's muzzle before the long trail ride."
"Before dawn, the rancher hung a feedbag on every horse in the corral."
"After the marathon, we strapped on the feedbag at the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet."
Standard plural; regular formation.
"The tack room held a row of clean feedbags ready for the evening."
Strap on the feedbag: this humble horse-harness item gave English one of its most vivid slang phrases for eating a big meal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feedbag
Feedbag is a straightforward English compound formed from the verb 'feed,' which descends from Old English 'fēdan,' meaning to nourish or give food, combined with 'bag.' The root behind 'feed' is the Germanic stem *fōd-, which also produced 'food' and 'foster' in English and 'fodder' for animal provender. The compound arose in the context of horse-drawn transport and agriculture, likely in the nineteenth century, when such equipment was part of everyday working life.
How feedbag is actually used
The literal sense is chiefly agricultural and appears most often in contexts involving horses; the informal figurative sense ('strap on the feedbag') is humorous and slightly folksy, common in American speech. The word carries no strong connotation in its literal use but sounds jocular when applied to human eating.
Easily confused with feedbag
'Feedback' means evaluative responses or returned signal, while 'feedbag' is a bag for feeding a horse — similar spelling and sound, entirely different meanings.