valise

American  

[vuh-lees, -leez] / vəˈlis, -ˈliz /

noun

1. a small piece of luggage that can be carried by hand, used to hold clothing, toilet articles, etc.; suitcase; traveling bag.

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valise British  

/ vəˈliːz /

noun

1. a small overnight travelling case

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Etymology

Origin of valise

1605–15; < French < Italian valigia, of obscure origin; compare Medieval Latin valēsium

Explanation

A valise is a small suitcase. If you're carrying a valise as you climb onto a train, you're probably heading off on a short vacation or a weekend trip to visit a friend. The noun valise sounds a little old-fashioned these days, but it's still a good way to talk about a satchel or overnight bag. You might pack a valise for a night at your sister's house, or carry a valise onto an airplane. In the 1600's, valise was often used to mean a soldier's small bag, and while the word has a Latin root, valisia, experts aren't sure what its origins might be.

Example Sentences

I am willing to accept, as settlement, as many $20 bills as can be crammed into a standard-size valise and mailed to my home.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2020

This he most emphatically proclaimed in his creation of the X, Y and Z Portfolios, a modern-day boîte en valise, after Duchamp, a “suitcase” of the artist’s most select wares.

From The Guardian • Nov. 17, 2015

At 21 she fled to London with a handful of records in her valise and has been an expat ever since.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2015

In 1978, when New York was bankrupt, a busted valise of a city, a few January snowstorms turned into a crisis that lasted for months.

From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2015

With a powerful arm, Grandma swung Mrs. Wilcox’s bulging valise aboard, then a picnic hamper.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck