Wallet

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈwɒlɪt/

Definitions

1. A small, flat folding case used to carry paper money, credit cards, and identification documents, typically kept in a pocket or purse
2. A compact and pliable holder designed to store currency, credit cards, and identification documents, often carried in a pocket or bag
3. A slender accessory utilized for organizing cash, cards, and IDs, generally placed within a purse or worn in a pocket

Etymology: The small leather pouch you carry your cash in was once a much larger object. Middle English "walet" meant a bag or knapsack, a sack a traveller slung over the shoulder, and it kept that broad sense for centuries before it shrank to the pocket-sized item we know today. The shrinking happened over time: as bags of coins gave way to folded paper and cards, the container for them got smaller too. The word's ultimate origin is uncertain. It may come from an assumed Old Northern French "walet", meaning a roll or a bag, which in turn may trace back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to roll". If that link holds, the wallet is named for the rolled-up or bundled shape of a bag, though the connection cannot be confirmed.

Synonyms: purse, billfold, holder, case