A
gunny sack, also known as a "gunny shoe", is an inexpensive bag made of
hessian (burlap) usually formed from
jute or other
natural fibers, although modern sacks are often made from
polypropylene; the "gunny" portion of the name ultimately descends from tulu(Indian Language spoken in Mangalore)
goni, "thread, fiber", by way of
imperial British corruption of that word's descendants in
later Indian languages. Gunny sacks are traditionally used for transporting grains, potatoes, and other agricultural products. Today they are also sometimes used as
sandbags for
erosion control. Gunny sacks are also popular in the traditional children's game of
sack racing.