Definition

Noun: 1. A bag for transporting a corpse: A heavy, often zippered bag, typically made of rubber or heavy-duty plastic, designed to contain and transport a human corpse, especially from a battlefield, disaster site, or crime scene.

Usage

The term "body bag" is used specifically to refer to the equipment used for handling and transporting the deceased in situations involving multiple casualties, military operations, or forensic contexts. It is a somber, direct term.

Examples: * The emergency crews brought in more body bags after the earthquake. * The photograph showed rows of body bags outside the field hospital. * The coroner's office uses specialized body bags for evidence preservation.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative/Metaphorical Use: In informal contexts, particularly in competitive sports or business, "body bag" can be used hyperbolically to imply a severe defeat or failure.
  • Example: "The opposing team was so good, they sent us home in a body bag."
• "Bagged and tagged": A related, informal phrase (often used in law enforcement or military contexts) meaning a corpse has been placed in a body bag and labeled with identifying information.

Variants and Related Words

• Human remains pouch: A more formal or technical term, often used in military or official documentation.
• Mortuary bag: A synonym used in medical and funeral service contexts.
• Zipper bag: A grim, informal slang term.

Synonyms

• Cadaver bag
• Corpse bag

Related Phrases

• To bag a body: (Verb phrase, informal/jargon) The act of placing a corpse into a body bag.
  • Example: "The first responders had to bag several bodies at the crash site."

Noun

1. a bag in which the body of a dead soldier is placed