Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveller's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveller can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip necessities. On the return trip, travelers may have souvenirs and gifts.

Luggage has changed over time. Historically the most common types of luggage were chests or trunks made of wood or other heavy materials. These would be shipped by professional movers. Since the Second World War smaller and more lightweight suitcases and bags that can be carried by an individual have become the main form of luggage.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word baggage comes from Old French bagage (from baguer "tie up") or from bagues ("bundles"). It may also be related to the word bag.

Also according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word luggage originally meant inconveniently heavy baggage and comes from the verb lug and the suffix -age.

Types of luggage:

• Trunk - A wooden box, generally much larger than other kinds of luggage.
• Suitcase - A wheeled or non-wheeled luggage, as well as soft or hard side luggage.
• Train case - A smaller, box-like, handled case for personal grooming articles.
• Garment bag - A style of luggage that folds over on itself to allow long garments such as suits or dresses to be packed flat to avoid creasing.
• Tote - A small bag, usually worn on the shoulder
• Duffle bag - A barrel-shaped bag, almost exclusively soft side, is well suited to casual travel, with little organization inside.
• Packing Cubes - Small rectangular bags of different sizes and different colors created to keep the baggage organized and save space
• Gate Check Bags - Bags specially designed to protect frequent gate checking items, such as strollers and car seats.

Passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of smaller bags with them in the vehicle, these are known as hand luggage (more commonly referred to as carry-on in North America), and contain valuables and items needed during the journey.

In airport terminals, a baggage claim or reclaim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. At most airports and many train stations, baggage is delivered to the passenger on a baggage carousel.

Left luggage, also luggage storage or bag storage, is a place where one can temporarily store one's luggage so as to not have to carry it. Left luggage is not synonymous with lost luggage.

六级/考研单词: luggage, transit, parcel, clothe, necessity, souvenir, trunk, accord, dictionary, bundle, verb, garment, fold, casual, cube, stroll, embark, synonym

行李为啥叫行李？ 汉典zdic.net  资料2
1. 行人、使者。《左传．僖xī公三十年》：「若舍郑以为东道主，行李之往来，共其乏困。」汉．蔡琰yǎn〈胡笳jiā十八拍〉：「追思往日兮行李难，六拍悲兮欲罢弹。」
2. 出门时所携带的行装。

古代出行，将旅费财物以布帛缠束，捆系腰际，故称为「盘缠」。