Ali Baba bag

English

Etymology

A reference to the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, in which the thieves hide in large oil jars; perhaps based on the idea that the bag is large enough to fit a person. Compare senses of Ali Baba related to large containers.

Noun

Ali Baba bag (plural Ali Baba bags)

1. (Singapore military slang) A soldier's duffel bag.
   • 2015, Martin Choo, editor, The Singapore Armed Forces, 1981, quoted in Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English:

     Each enlistee leaves.. with items packed into a duffel bag more commonly known as the ‘Ali-Baba’ bag.

   • 2015, Mickey Chiang, Fighting Fit: The Singapore Armed Forces, 1990, quoted in Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English:

     To the young recruit who is already carrying a civilian bag packed with his belongings and spare civilian clothing, the Ali Baba bag is a man-size load.

   • 2007 May 21, laokokok, “BMT to ROD”, in Times of My Life‎^[1], retrieved 16 April 2023:

     Upon completion, you can redeem a mini Ali Baba bag! My goodness, I’ve been waiting for so many years to get rid of that bag, and now my wife and kids are trying to get a few more Ali Baba bags….