four-pack
UK[ˈfɔː pæk]US[ˈfɔr pæk]
n
A package containing four items, typically four containers of a beverage such as beer or soda.
n
A set of four items sold as a unit.
Morpheme Breakdown
four
pack
four
number
pack
bundle
Etymology
The word is a transparent modern English compound, combining the cardinal number "four" with the noun "pack." "Four" descends from the Proto-Indo-European root kʷetwóres, which gave rise to its forms across Germanic (Old English fēower), Italic (Latin quattuor), and Hellenic (Greek tessares) languages. "Pack" entered English from Low German or Dutch, carrying the core meaning of a bundle or a parcel. The compound "four-pack" logically follows the productive pattern in retail and packaging (e.g., six-pack, multi-pack) to denote a standardized sales unit containing exactly four items, most commonly associated with canned or bottled beverages.
Analysis
Structure: four (number) + pack (bundle)
- four: From Old English fēower, of Proto-Germanic origin; related to Latin quattuor and Greek tessares. Functions as a numerical root.
- pack: From Middle Dutch pac or Middle Low German pak, of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly imitative. Functions as a noun root meaning a bundle or package.
Examples
He grabbed a four-pack of craft beer from the refrigerator.
The soda was on sale, so I bought a four-pack.
The product is available as a single unit or in a cost-effective four-pack.