Unpack

v. [UN-² 3, 5. Cf. Du. ontpakken.]

  1.  trans. To undo or open up (a pack, bale, etc.) and remove or release the contents.

1472–5.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 155/2. Then it be leeffull to the Collectours … to doo unpakke there tho Pakkes and Fardels.

1535.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 14 § 1. Whiche packes so conveied … to suche portes … to be shipped be never there unpacked.

1611.  Cotgr., Desempacquet, to vnpacke, to vnloose a packe.

1739.  J. Elton, in Hanway Trav. (1762), I. I. v. 21. The custom-house officers are not to break open and unpack their bales.

1798.  S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 478. On the deck sat Lady Emily, unpacking a little basket of fruit.

1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, xxiii. The beadle, stooping to unpack his bundle.

1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, 34. Go away … and unpack your portmanteau.

  fig.  1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 614. This is most braue, That I … Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words.

1874.  Ruskin, Hortus Inclusus (1887), 15. The difficulty I had in unpacking my mind.

  2.  To take (something) out of a pack or packing.

1598.  Hakluyt, Voy., I. 210. That none of our said subiects shall vnlade … nor vnpacke … no kind of wares.

1669.  Boyle, Certain Physiol. Ess. (ed. 2), Absol. Rest Bodies, 25. When … he had unpacked them [sc. a great parcel of glasses] and rang’d them.

1754.  Ld. Hardwicke, in Harris, Life (1847), III. xii. 18. As company is to come soon,… your mother is very busy in unpacking her house [= furniture].

1810.  W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 2), II. 1189. Not having any directions from him respecting the goods, [defendant] caused them to be unpacked.

1825.  Ld. G. Cavendish, in Biog. J. Gibson (1911), 62. It has been unpacked, and placed on a temporary pedestal.

1894.  A. Robertson, Nuggets, 38. He unpacked the gold and laid it … on the counter.

  fig.  1596.  Nashe, Saffron Walden, K 4. The strange vntraffiqu’t phrases by him now vented and vnpackt.

1821.  Lamb, Elia, I. Imperfect Sympathies. He brings his total wealth into company, and gravely unpacks it.

1841.  H. Miller, O. R. Sandst., vi. 107. The strata … have been unpacked and arranged by the uptilting agent.

  b.  transf. To take (a person) out of a conveyance, dress, etc.

1690.  Crowne, Eng. Frier, III. The elderly Ladies have been unpack’d a good while since.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxii. A red-haired man … had unpacked himself from a cab at the same moment.

1898.  Westm. Gaz., 21 May, 3/2. My poor child, in what a state of … collapse must you have been when Myrtle unpacked you on your return!

  c.  refl. or pass. To get one’s furniture, luggage, etc., unpacked.

1791.  H. Walpole, Lett. to Miss Berry, 27 Oct., in Miss Berry’s Jrnl. & Corr. (1865), I. 373. I … thought it would be very uncomfortable to you, till you had unpacked y^rselves, seen some few persons, adjusted y^r family, &c.

1812.  Lady Granville, Lett. (1894), I. 40. The Bessboroughs have been unpacked about a couple of hours.

  3.  To remove a pack or load from (a horse, carriage, etc.).

1570.  Levins, Manip., 5. To Unpacke, esarcinare.

1598.  Florio, Sbastare, to vnpacke, to vnsaddle a cariers horse.

1835.  W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 27. His first care was to unpack his horses, and put them in safe quarters.

1853.  Douglas, Milit. Bridges (ed. 3), 66. To unpack the carriage [carrying a pontoon].

  4.  absol. To perform the work of unpacking.

1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 22. Two-thirds trappers,… and one-third camp-keepers; who cook, pack, and unpack.

1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 626. As her commander … asked me on board to lunch, I had to unpack again.

  Hence Unpacking vbl. sb.

1472–5.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 155/2. Withoute unpakking or sight of such Clothes.

1797.  Monthly Mag., III. 261/1. I was present at the unpacking of the machine.

1837.  [Mrs. Maitland], Lett. fr. Madras (1843), 97. People never seem to be able to lay their private hands upon them till after they have finished all their unpacking.

1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 272. It was a bundle of bark cloth: I anxiously watched its unpacking.

  attrib.  1829.  in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 103. Unpacking Rooms connected with the several Museums.