packet
UK[ˈpækɪt]US[ˈpækɪt]
n
A small paper or cardboard container, typically one in which goods are packed for sale.
n
A small, thin, flat package or envelope.
n
A block of data transmitted across a network.
Morpheme Breakdown
pack
et
pack
to bundle
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'packet' has a straightforward and practical etymology. It is formed from the core word 'pack', which has Germanic origins related to the act of bundling or tying things together. The addition of the French diminutive suffix '-et' (or its variant '-ette') creates the meaning of "a small pack." This construction directly reflects its primary modern meaning: a small container or bundle. The term was later adopted in computing and telecommunications to logically describe a small, discrete unit of data bundled for transmission, maintaining the core concept of a compact, contained unit.
Analysis
Structure: pack (to bundle) + et (diminutive suffix)
'Pack' originates from Middle English 'pakke', likely from a Germanic source, meaning a bundle or parcel. The suffix '-et' is a diminutive suffix from Old French, indicating a small version of something.
Examples
She tore open the packet of sugar and poured it into her coffee.
The information is sent over the internet in discrete data packets.
He found a packet of old letters tied with a ribbon in the attic.