purse English · revision 15184

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1100|origins=grc βύρσα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pɜːs/, US /pɝːs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|purs]], [[inh|ang|purs]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|la-med|bursa|t=purse]], altered perhaps under the influence of [[m|ang|pusa|t=bag]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The Medieval Latin word is a variant of [[la-lat|byrsa|t=hide]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|βύρσα|tr=búrsa|t=hide, leather]], of unknown origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and also gave [[fr|bourse]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small pouch or bag of leather for carrying money: before 1100.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The purse is named after its traditional material, leather; the same Latin word gave [[bursar]], [[disburse]] and [[reimburse]].^(Cresswell 2021) A purse with its contents, money or funds, is from about 1350,^(OED 1989) and a sum collected as a present or prize from 1650.^(OED 1989) The verb, to put into one's purse, is from 1303,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and to draw the lips together and wrinkle them, from the drawing of purse strings, from the early 17th century.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The ''purse-net'' with a drawstring is from about 1400, and ''purse-proud'', proud of one's wealth, from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) In Yorkshire dialect to purse was to have goose-flesh.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1100 – a money bag.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1303 – to purse (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1350 – money, funds.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – purse-net.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – to wrinkle, pucker.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650 – a prize or present of money.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small bag or pouch for carrying money, especially coins.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US, Canada)'' A woman's [[handbag]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something resembling a small bag or pouch.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Wealth; funds.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sum of money offered as a prize.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw the lips or brow together into folds; to [[pucker]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[purselike]]

+ * [[purseless]]

+ * [[cutpurse]]

+ * [[purse-proud]]

+ * [[purser]]

+ * [[pursy]]

+ * [[beggar's purse]]

+ * [[purse-string suture]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bursa]]

+ * [[bursar]]

+ * [[bursary]]

+ * [[reimburse]]

+ * [[disburse]]

+ * [[bourse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}