Billfold

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɪlˌfoʊld/

Definitions

1. A compact, foldable holder used for organizing paper currency, identification cards, and credit cards An accessory designed for securely storing various forms of money and essential cards in a portable manner A flat construction intended to keep cash, identification, and cards neatly arranged and easily accessible
2. A small, folding container meant to keep banknotes and important cards safe and organized
3. An item used for holding paper currency and credit or identity cards in a compact, foldable design

Etymology: "Billfold" is a plain compound: "bill," meaning a banknote (a paper money sense that goes back to the Middle Ages, when "bill" also meant a written document or list), joined to "fold," a flat piece of paper or cloth that can be folded over. Put together, the name describes exactly what the object is: a folding case for paper money. The result is a transparent name, with no hidden detour through another language. The "bill" half refers to the paper currency it was made to hold, while "fold" describes its construction. The pairing is typical of English compounds built from everyday words rather than borrowed or coined terms.

Synonyms: wallet