Purse

purs, n. a small bag for money, orig. made of skin: a sum of money, esp. a sum given as a present or offered as a prize: a treasury: a person's finances.— v.t. to put into a purse: to contract as the mouth of a purse: to draw into folds or wrinkles.— n. Purse′-bear′er , one who has charge of the purse of another: a treasurer.— adj. Purse′-bear′ing , pouched, marsupiate.— ns. Purse′ful , as much as a purse can hold: enough to fill a purse; Purse′-mouth ( Tenn. ), a pursed-up mouth; Purse′-net , a kind of net that can be closed like a purse; Purse′-pride .— adj. Purse′-proud , proud of one's purse or wealth: insolent from wealth.— ns. Purs′er , an officer who has charge of the provisions, clothing, and accounts of a ship, now termed a 'paymaster;' Purs′ership ; Purse′-seine , a seine which can be pursed into the shape of a bag.— n.pl. Purse′-strings , the strings fastening a purse.— n. Purse′-tak′ing , robbing.— A light , or empty , purse , poverty; A long , or heavy , purse , riches; Privy purse , an allowance for the private expenses of the British sovereign: an officer in the royal household who pays the sovereign the grant of the civil list for his private expenses. [O. Fr. borse (Fr. bourse )—Low L. bursa —Gr. byrsa , a hide.]