handbag

[ hand-bag ]

/ ˈhændˌbæg /

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, handbarrow, handbasket, handbell

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 handbags

Inspried by "Russian patriotism," Anna Chapman has recently debuted a collection of flowy print dresses and handbags.
Karl Lagerfeld Discusses Francois Hollande Affair; Diesel Ad Features Wheelchair Blogger as Model|The Fashion Beast Team|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She introduced four styles of handbags when her company began, offering various combinations of color and leather.
Concealed Carry Handbags: An Evening Bag for Your Gun?|Erin Cunningham|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"These clients usually already own a lot of jewelry and handbags," he added.
Lingerie for the 1 Percent|CNBC|August 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The suit, which was filed on Thursday, claims that e-mail blasts sent by Costco on April 16th claimed to sell Kors handbags.
A.P.C. Releases Kanye West Collection; Max Azria Faces Insurmountable Debt|The Fashion Beast Team|July 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Sales of the handbags have increased 30 percent from last year, Woolstenhulme told Fashionista.
Joseph Altuzarra Named U.S. Representative for International Woolmark Prize; L'Wren Scott Teams Up With Banana Republic|The Fashion Beast Team|July 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was the following evening he left on the bus with these two handbags.
Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
It is astonishing how unobservant people are about such things as umbrellas, sticks, and handbags.
The Shrieking Pit|Arthur J. Rees
Presently Thaneford himself appeared, carrying a couple of handbags; he threw the luggage in the cart, mounted, and drove away.
In Jeopardy|Van Tassel Sutphen
There he found the handbags and suitcases, umbrellas and other equipment.
Excuse Me!|Rupert Hughes
The rats were chased out of camp and their skins tanned and made into dainty purses and handbags.
Punch, Volume 156, January 22, 1919.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for handbags (1 of 2)

handbags

/ (ˈhændˌbæɡz) /

pl n

facetious an incident in which people, esp sportsmen, fight or threaten to fight, but without real intent to inflict harm (esp in the phrases handbags at dawn, handbags at twenty paces, etc)

British Dictionary definitions for handbags (2 of 2)

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

handbag

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of handbag

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for handbags

British Dictionary definitions for handbags (1 of 2)

handbags

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for handbags (2 of 2)

handbag

noun

Word Origin for handbag