Plural of baggage; multiple collections of bags and luggage, or figuratively, burdens and problems.
From Old French 'bagage,' likely from 'bag' (Old Norse origin) plus Old French '-age' suffix. Used since the 14th century for both literal luggage and metaphorical burdens.
The phrase 'emotional baggage' is so common now that we sometimes forget that 'baggage' originally just meant luggage—but this metaphorical extension dates back centuries. Heavy emotional loads became 'baggage' because they burden us like literal bags burden a traveler.
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