What does gunny mean?
Gunny is a coarse, strong fabric traditionally made from jute or hemp, especially when used for sacks, bags, and other durable packaging. It is closely associated with agriculture and the storage or transport of agricultural products such as grain, potatoes, coffee, and animal feed. The material is valued for toughness and low cost rather than fine appearance or softness. In American English, gunny is often closely synonymous with burlap, while British speakers may use hessian in the same general sense. “Gunny sack” is the most familiar expression, although the uncountable term can also refer directly to the fabric. Gunny entered English from South Asian languages during the nineteenth century and reflects the long commercial and cultural connections between South Asia and Europe. Today it remains useful because it identifies a familiar class of rough, reusable packaging material while also preserving an interesting linguistic connection to South Asia.
nounA coarse, durable fabric made from jute or hemp, used especially for making sacks; also a sack or bag made of this material.
- A coarse, strong fabric traditionally made from jute or hemp and used for sacks and packaging.
- A sack or bag made from this fabric.
"The harvested grain was stored in sturdy gunny sacks."
"The potatoes were stored in large gunny sacks."
"The merchant unrolled a length of gunny cloth across the table."
Use the plural for individual sacks or bags; gunny used for the fabric itself is normally uncountable.
"The crew loaded the gunnies onto the truck."
Gunny is a global traveler's sack: a humble South Asian loanword now naming the jute cloth behind countless grain, coffee, and shipping bags.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gunny come from?
English gunny appeared in the nineteenth century, borrowed from Hindi goni or ganni, with the form gunni also recorded. The Hindi word is associated with Marathi goni, meaning a sack or bundle, and with Tamil gunni, a coarse sack. Related forms occur in Malay and Indonesian goni, meaning sack, reflecting the wider South and Southeast Asian vocabulary for coarse bags and sacking.
Related word forms
How gunny is actually used
Gunny is a practical, utilitarian term common in agricultural, shipping, and packaging contexts. American English often uses burlap for a comparable material, while British English commonly uses hessian.
Easily confused with gunny
Gunny is a coarse fabric or sack, whereas gummy is an adjective meaning sticky or soft and can also refer to a chewy candy.