passbook

American  

[pas-book, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌbʊk, ˈpɑs- /

noun

1. a bankbook.

2. (formerly) a small book or ledger for each customer in which a merchant keeps a record of goods sold on credit and the amounts owed and paid.

3. South African. reference book.

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passbook British  

/ ˈpɑːsˌbʊk /

noun

1. a book for keeping a record of withdrawals from and payments into a building society

2. another name for bankbook

3. a customer's book in which is recorded by a trader a list of credit sales to that customer

4. (formerly in South Africa) an official document serving to identify the bearer, his race, his residence, and his employment

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Etymology

Origin of passbook

First recorded in 1820–30; pass + book

Example Sentences

Mr. Dell told the Journal he had $8 in a passbook savings account as an eight-year old and enjoyed watching it grow.

From The Wall Street Journal

South Africans used to go to collect a passbook, or a "dompas", that controlled where they could travel.

From BBC

Ramaphosa said he collected his passbook at the building about 50 years ago, when he worked in the city.

From Reuters

Mr Stinson says one reason behind this stagnation may be that most local customers are happy with how things are already run, even if it means sometimes standing in line with a passbook.

From BBC

One of the glitches affected most of its ATMS, leaving thousands of bank cards and passbooks stuck inside.

From Reuters