First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1purse
noun \ˈpərs\
: a usually leather or cloth bag used by women for carrying money and personal things
: an amount of money that a person, organization, or government has available to use
: an amount of money that is offered as a prize in a competition (such as a horse race, a golf tournament, or a boxing match)
Full Definition of PURSE
1
a (1) : a small bag for money (2) : a receptacle (as a pocketbook) for carrying money and often other small objects b : a receptacle (as a pouch) shaped like a purse
2
a : resources, funds b : a sum of money offered as a prize or present; also : the total amount of money offered in prizes for a given event
— purse·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
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Origin of PURSE
Middle English purs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin bursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek byrsa
Related to PURSE
- Synonyms
- bag, handbag, pocketbook
2purse
verb
: to form (your lips) into a tight circle or line
pursedpurs·ing
Full Definition of PURSE
transitive verb
1
: to put into a purse
See purse defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PURSE
14th century
PURSE[1] Defined for Kids
1purse
noun \ˈpərs\
Definition of PURSE for Kids
1
: a bag or pouch for money
2
: handbag
3
: the amount of money that a person, organization, or government has available for use
4
: a sum of money offered as a prize or collected as a present
2purse
verb
pursedpurs·ing
Definition of PURSE for Kids
: to form into a tight circle or line <He … pursed his lips, and blew out a little air. — Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows>
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