Purse
/pɜːrs/noun
A small container for carrying money and personal items.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Latin term for a small bag made from animal skin, and its long journey shows how everyday money-words often began as literal containers for coins.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰer-
“to carry”
Latin
Latin
bursa
“a bag or purse; a leather pouch”
Late Latin
Latin
bursa
“a purse or money bag”
Old French
Old French
borse
“a purse, pouch, or bag”
Middle English
English
purs
“a small bag for money”
Modern English
English
purse
“a small container for carrying money and personal items”