Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
purse — [pɜːs ǁ pɜːrs] noun [singular] 1. the amount of money that a person, organization, or country has available to spend: • We offer holidays to suit every purse. 2. the public purse ECONOMICS the money controlled by a government: • The project is a… … Financial and business terms
Purse — Purse, n. [OE. purs, pors, OF. burse, borse, bourse, F. bourse, LL. bursa, fr. Gr. ? hide, skin, leather. Cf. {Bourse}, {Bursch}, {Bursar}, {Buskin}.] 1. A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw together closely, used to carry… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Purse — Purse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pursed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pursing}.] 1. To put into a purse. [1913 Webster] I will go and purse the ducats straight. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles, like the mouth of a purse; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purse — (n.) O.E. pursa little bag made of leather, from M.L. bursa purse (Cf. O.Fr. borse, 12c., Fr. bourse), from L.L., variant of byrsa hide, from Gk. byrsa hide, leather. Change of b to p perhaps by infl. of O.E. pusa, O.N. posi … Etymology dictionary
purse — [pʉrs] n. [ME < OE purs < ML bursa, bag, purse < LL, hide < Gr byrsa] 1. a small bag or pouch for carrying money 2. financial resources; money 3. a sum of money collected as a present or given as a prize ☆ 4. a woman s handbag 5.… … English World dictionary
Purse — Purse, v. i. To steal purses; to rob. [Obs. & R.] [1913 Webster] I ll purse: . . . I ll bet at bowling alleys. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purse — [n1] tote for carrying personal items bag, billfold, bursa, carryall, clutch, frame, handbag, hide, leather, lizard, moneybag, pocket, pocketbook, poke, pouch, receptacle, reticule, sack, wallet; concepts 339,446,450,494 purse [n2] award;… … New thesaurus
purse — ► NOUN 1) a small pouch for carrying money. 2) N. Amer. a handbag. 3) money for spending; funds. 4) a sum of money given as a prize in a sporting contest. ► VERB ▪ (with reference to the lips) pucker or contract. ● … English terms dictionary
purse — index reward, stake (award), treasury Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
purse — sb. (fk.) (præmiesum ved et boksestævne) … Dansk ordbog
purse — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 (esp. BrE) for carrying money ADJECTIVE ▪ leather ▪ change (AmE) VERB + PURSE ▪ open ▪ snatch … Collocations dictionary
