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 called: bag.  purse.  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 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

Inside a historic aircraft hangar in Playa Vista, crowds of people gathered on Thursday to browse the latest fashions from handbags to clothing and shoes as they prepared for the holiday shopping season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If we split up, I’ll look for vintage clothing inspiration for Clare V., including vintage handbags and clothing, as well as anything else.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The real story isn’t only about handbags and coffee, but about the emergence of a consumer class discovering ways to express identity through attainable taste.

Read more on Barron's

Inside the unit, detectives found jewelry, cash and handbags.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Perhaps best remembered as the inspiration for a luxury handbag, the Hermès Birkin, the woman herself favored a casual, accessible style.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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