Purses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To contract or compress something, often in a facial expression; to gather or fold material, particularly fabrics, into a tight bunch; a small bag typically used to carry personal items such as money or cosmetics
2. To draw together or tighten, especially in the context of facial movements; to bunch fabric or materials for style or function; a compact container for holding essential items and accessories
3. To wrinkle or constrict, notably as a reaction; to gather together fabric in a way that creates folds; a portable item designed for holding valuables conveniently and securely

Etymology: "Purses" is simply the third-person singular present form of the verb "purse," so the story belongs to the noun "purse" and the verb that grew from it. The noun's deepest root is a leather bag. Ancient Greek "býrsa" meant a hide or wineskin, and Medieval Latin "bursa" took that sense of a leather bag, giving Old English "burse," which sits beside a separate native Germanic word, "pusa," meaning a wallet or bag. English "purse" blends those two lines, and it is cognate with Dutch-adjacent and Scandinavian words such as Old Norse "posi" and Danish "pose," which still mean a bag. The verb sense of drawing together comes from the way a bag's mouth is gathered shut with a cord, so pursing the lips or bunching fabric simply repeats the action of closing a purse. That is why the verb describes both a sealed pouch and a tightened mouth.

Synonyms: bags, handbags