Briefcases

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specialized bag designed for organizing and transporting papers, devices, and work essentials in professional settings
2. A hand-held case used to carry important documents, electronic devices, and work materials securely
3. A compact, rigid bag intended for professionals to store and transport paperwork and office tools

Etymology: "Briefcases" is simply the plural of "briefcase," so the history lies in the singular. A briefcase is a compound of "brief" and "case," and the two parts carry the explanation. The "brief" here is the legal sense: a brief was a document that set out a lawyer's case, and by extension the papers a lawyer carried into court. The "case" is the container, a box or bag for holding things. Put together, the word names a container for the papers a legal professional needed, which is why the compound made sense long before anyone carried a laptop in one.

Synonyms: attachés, cases, satchels, bags, portfolios