Cabas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large, rectangular handbag or tote often made of woven material used for carrying personal items ; a roomy container typically designed for shopping or carrying goods ; a type of bag with a sturdy structure used for transport or storage purposes
2. A spacious carryall usually crafted from natural fibers intended for holding belongings ; a bag with an open top and two handles designed for everyday use or shopping ; a woven or fabric container used commonly as a practical accessory for transporting items
3. A portable receptacle, typically sizable and constructed from durable materials, used to carry possessions ; a tote or shopper's bag characterized by its large capacity and handles ; a handbag style that is functional and robust, often favored for carrying various items conveniently

Etymology: The French "cabas" is the word that English borrowed, and it has an older root in Latin and Greek that goes back to a basket for holding things. In French it came to name a large, sturdy bag of woven or cloth material, the kind a shopper hauls home from the market, and English adopted that same sense. The English form keeps the French pronunciation and spelling almost unchanged, which tells you it arrived as a deliberate borrowing rather than a word that grew up in English speech. The picture of a rounded basket of plaited reeds is worth holding onto, because the word has always meant a container first and a particular style of bag second. The emphasis on capacity and toughness in its modern meanings follows directly from that original idea of something built to hold a load.

Synonyms: bag, tote, sack, carryall, handbag