briefcase

[breef-keys] /ˈbrifˌkeɪs/

noun

a flat, rectangular case with a handle, often of leather, for carrying books, papers, etc.

Origin

1925-30; brief (noun) + case²

Can be confused

briefcase, handbag, pocketbook, purse, valise, wallet.

Examples from the web for briefcase

And he saluted this spot on the monument, then picked up his briefcase and went off to work.
Commuter in suit w/ briefcase cannot stop himself or change course fast enough and slams into her.
His metal briefcase had set off a security alarm during a routine baggage inspection.
It will live in your briefcase, your pocket and your hand.
So, because it is fragile, it will need to travel in a briefcase or dedicated pouch.
In a nutshell the way stuff is done there is over briefcase meetings in some cases.
She grabs her briefcase and runs two blocks to the bus stop.
Imagine waking up in a strange city with no idea who you are, where you are or why there's a briefcase handcuffed to your arm.
When you need to be productive on long flights, you'd better pack a bunch of extra laptop batteries in your briefcase.
Another had a cell phone handset pressed to his head and was attempting to get a scrap of paper, one-handed, from his briefcase.

British Dictionary definitions for briefcase

briefcase

/ˈbriːfˌkeɪs/

noun

a flat portable case, often of leather, for carrying papers, books, etc

Word Origin and History for briefcase

"portable folding case for holding papers," 1926, from brief (n.) in the paper sense + case (n.2).

briefcase in Technology

tool
A Win95/WinNT utility for keeping files on two computers without permanent connection in sync.
The scenario briefcase was designed for is the combination of an office computer and a portable one. You connect the two before leaving your office, create a briefcase on the portable (if you don't already have one on it), then copy the files you want to work on while away into the briefcase. You can at this point disconnect the two computers, take the portable with you and work on the files in the briefcase at home or on the road. When you get back to your office the briefcase utility can automatically update the files you changed on the office computer.
(1998-05-18)