handbag

[ hand-bag ]

/ ˈhændˌbæg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR handbag ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

valise.

Nearby words

hand-walk, hand-wash, hand-wringing, handan, handba', handbag, handbags, handball, handball, team, handbarrow, handbasket

Origin of handbag

First recorded in 1860–65; hand + bag

Can be confused

briefcase handbag pocketbook purse valise wallet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for handbag

Decorative yes, but a daily handbag that will sweep through the closets of women worldwide?
Handbags: The More You Pay, The Smaller They Shrink|Elizabeth Landers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hermes helped us for her scarves, as well as Kelly handbag archives.
The Only Thing That Sparkles in ‘Grace of Monaco’…the Jewels|Liza Foreman|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have never spent more than two hundred dollars on a handbag.
How to Guest Star in Your Own Life|Annabelle Gurwitch|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had a handbag line, became a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, and hosted a Fox reality TV show, among other endeavors.
Stop Slut-Shaming Monica Lewinsky!|Emily Shire|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The look was set off perfectly by a £795 Aspinall handbag—and a necklace from the cheaper main street store Accessorize.
Pippa Finally Figures Out How To Dress|Tom Sykes|January 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Clifford, who for several years had spent a part of each summer at his aunt's, carried a handbag.
St. Nicholas v. 13 No. 9 July 1886|Various
Dot, who was particularly enthusiastic about the chocolate cake, carried the basket of food, while Linda took the handbag.
Linda Carlton's Island Adventure|Edith Lavell
"Why—yes," she replied, gazing into her handbag with a preoccupied frown.
Bat Wing Bowles|Dane Coolidge
All are carrying something: a bundle of clothing, a loaf of bread, a handbag tied together with string.
Autumn Glory|Ren Bazin
She packed her belongings into her suitcase, put Glorious Luties miniature in her handbag.
Out of the Air|Inez Haynes Irwin

British Dictionary definitions for handbag

handbag

/ (ˈhændˌbæɡ) /

noun

Also called: bag, (US and Canadian) purse, (chiefly US) pocketbook a woman's small bag carried to contain personal articles

a small suitcase that can be carried by hand

a commercial style of House music

Word Origin for handbag

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012