Purse

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɜː(ɹ)s/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)s

Origin

From Middle English, from Old English purs ("purse"), partly from Old English pusa ("wallet, bag, scrip"), and partly from Old English burse ("pouch, bag").

Old English pusa comes from Proto-Germanic *pusô ("bag, sack, scrip"), from Proto-Indo-European *būs- ("to swell, stuff"), and is cognate with Old High German pfoso ("pouch, purse"), Low German pūse ("purse, bag"), Old Norse posi ("purse, bag"), Danish pose ("purse, bag"). Old English burse comes from Medieval Latin bursa ("leather bag") (compare English bursar), from Ancient Greek βύρσα (bursa, "hide, wine-skin").

Compare also Old French borse (French: bourse), Old Saxon bursa ("bag"), Old High German burissa ("wallet").

Full definition of purse

Noun

1. A small bag for carrying money.
• 1550 Mierdman, Steuen, The market or fayre of usurersAnd then muÅ¿t many a man occupie as farre as his purÅ¿e would reache, and Å¿tretche out his legges accordynge to the length of his couerlet.
2. (US) A handbag (small bag usually used by women for carrying various small personal items)
3. A quantity of money given for a particular purpose.
• Joyce Ulysses, Episode 12, The CyclopsIt was a historic and a hefty battle when Myler and Percy were scheduled to don the gloves for the purse of fifty sovereigns.
4. (historical) A specific sum of money in certain countries: formerly 500 piastres in Turkey or 50 tomans in Persia.

Synonyms

• (small bag for carrying money) pocketbook; coin purse, change purse
• especially US
• (small bag used by women) handbag especially UK
• (quantity of money) bursary, grant

Derived terms

• common purse
• make a silk purse of a sow's ear
• murse

Related terms

• bursa, bursar, bursary
• reimburse

Verb

1. (transitive) To press (one's lips) in and together so that they protrude.
• 1979, Monty Python, Always Look on the Bright Side of LifeWhen you're feeling in the dumpsDon't be silly chumpsJust purse your lips and whistle – that's the thing.
2. To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles; to pucker; to knit.
• ShakespeareThou ... didst contract and purse thy brow.
3. To put into a purse.
• ShakespeareI will go and purse the ducats straight.
4. (intransitive, obsolete, rare) To steal purses; to rob.
• Beaumont and FletcherI'll purse: ... I'll bet at bowling alleys.

Synonyms

• pucker

Anagrams

• rupes, sprue, super