handbag

[ hand-bag ]

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 for holding money, personal grooming items, small purchases, etc.
2. valise.

handbag

/ ˈhændˌbæɡ /

noun

1. Also calledbagUS and Canadianpursechiefly USpocketbook 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 History and Origins

Origin of handbag¹

First recorded in 1860–65; hand + bag

Word History and Origins

Origin of handbag¹

(for sense 3) C20: humorous allusion to the trend for groups of women to dance round their handbags in discos, nightclubs, etc

Example Sentences

That said, you should expect to easily fit a truly travel-size printer in a handbag or small carry-on.

From Popular-Science

I spent hours looking online at designer handbags I couldn’t afford, and my No.

From Washington Post

Stein Mart, founded 112 years ago in Mississippi, sells off-price clothing, handbags and housewares, but has fallen behind larger competitors like TJ Maxx, Burlington and Nordstrom Rack.

From Washington Post

This is not going to be a banner year for sweaters and handbags.

From Washington Post

It will shrink its offering of handbags, fine jewelry, and men’s suits—areas that have seen sales decline—making space to increase inventory of healthier categories.

From Fortune

Decorative yes, but a daily handbag that will sweep through the closets of women worldwide?

From The Daily Beast

The 19 scientists on staff have figured out how to get DNA of the animal whose skin was used to make a leather handbag.

From The Daily Beast

Hermes helped us for her scarves, as well as Kelly handbag archives.

From The Daily Beast

I have never spent more than two hundred dollars on a handbag.

From The Daily Beast

She had a handbag line, became a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, and hosted a Fox reality TV show, among other endeavors.

From The Daily Beast

The girl was dressed in a pearl grey and pink sports coat, with a large black hat, and carried a silver chain handbag.

From Project Gutenberg

The pickpocket finds it easy to unsnap a handbag and remove some of the contents, especially in crowded places.

From Project Gutenberg

She winked at me roguishly, and patted her heavy handbag significantly.

From Project Gutenberg

She, too, gave me a conspiratorial wink and patted her handbag.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she took a magazine from her handbag and began—presumably—to read.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backpack
• bag
• evening bag
• leather
• pocketbook
• purse