handbag
[
hand
-bag]
/ˈhændˌbæg/
noun
1.
a
bag
or box of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, held in the
hand
or carried by means of a handle or strap, commonly used by women for holding money, toilet articles, small purchases, etc.
2.
valise
.
Origin
1860-65;
hand
+
bag
Can be confused
briefcase
,
handbag,
pocketbook
,
purse
,
valise
,
wallet
.
Examples from the web for
handbag
While you wait for a cappuccino, a pretty fashionista asks who designed your
handbag
.
If they are eyeing an old lady's
handbag
, they may be up to no good.
It's small enough to fit in a
handbag
, has a pink case and comes with a stylus to protect delicate nail jobs.
There was a time when a
handbag
was a
handbag
was a
handbag
, and the same applied to evening designs.
The dollar volume in the
handbag
industry has been falling steadily in the last few years although unit sales are fairly constant.
Crisp calls its falafels
handbag
sandwiches for their eco-paper packaging, complete with clever zipper waists.
Carry all of your game day essentials in this stylish yet practical
handbag
.
Pack some of your favorite non-perishable snacks from home in your
handbag
.
When lithium-ion batteries were invented, mobile phones became small enough to be carried in a pocket or slipped into a
handbag
.
Gourmet chocolate bars are the equivalent of a designer
handbag
.
British Dictionary definitions for
handbag
handbag
/
ˈhændˌbæɡ
/
noun
1.
Also called
bag,
(
US and Canadian
)
purse,
(
chiefly US
)
pocketbook.
a woman's small bag carried to contain personal articles
2.
a small suitcase that can be carried by hand
3.
a commercial style of House music
Word Origin
(for sense 3) C20: humorous allusion to the trend for groups of women to dance round their handbags in discos, nightclubs, etc
Word Origin and History for
handbag
n.
also
hand-bag
, 1854, from
hand
(n.) +
bag
(n.).