Sack, n. [F. sac plunder, pillage, originally, a pack, packet, booty
packed up, fr. L. saccus. See Sack a bag.] The pillage or plunder, as
of a town or city; the storm and plunder of a town; devastation;
ravage.
The town was stormed, and delivered up to sack, -- by which phrase
is to be understood the perpetration of all those outrages which
the ruthless code of war allowed, in that age, on the persons and
property of the defenseless inhabitants, without regard to sex or
age.
Prescott.
Sack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sacking.] [See
Sack pillage.] To plunder or pillage, as a town or city; to devastate;
to ravage.
The Romans lay under the apprehensions of seeing their city sacked
by a barbarous enemy.
Addison.
Sack"age (?; 48), n. The act of taking by storm and pillaging; sack.
[R.] H. Roscoe.
Sack"but (?), n. [F. saquebute, OF. saqueboute a sackbut, earlier, a
sort of hook attached to the end of a lance used by foot soldiers to
unhorse cavalrymen; prop. meaning, pull and push; fr. saquier, sachier,
to pull, draw (perhaps originally, to put into a bag or take out from a
bag; see Sack a bag) + bouter to push (see Butt to thrust). The name
was given to the musical instrument from its being lengthened and
shortened.] (Mus.) A brass wind instrument, like a bass trumpet, so
contrived that it can be lengthened or shortened according to the tone
required; -- said to be the same as the trombone. [Written also
sagbut.] Moore (Encyc. of Music).
The sackbut of the Scriptures is supposed to have been a stringed
instrument.
Sack"cloth` (?; 115), n. Linen or cotton cloth such as sacks are made
of; coarse cloth; anciently, a cloth or garment worn in mourning,
distress, mortification, or penitence.
Gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.