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Wallet vs Purse - What's the difference?

wallet | purse |

As nouns the difference between wallet and purse

is that wallet is a small case, often flat and often made of leather, for keeping money (especially paper money), credit cards, etc while purse is a small bag for carrying money.

As a verb purse is

to press (one's lips) in and together so that they protrude.

wallet

English

(wikipedia wallet)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small case, often flat and often made of leather, for keeping money (especially paper money), credit cards, etc.
    • The thief stole all the money and credit cards out of the old man's wallet .
  • (by extension, slang) A person's bank account or assets.
    • It's unknown if the pro running back's recent sex scandal will hit him in the wallet or not.
  • A thick case or folder with plastic sleeves in which compact discs may be stored.
    • I won an auction online for a cheap CD wallet .
  • (archaic) A bag or pouch.
    • He brought with him a large wallet with some provisions for the road.

    Synonyms

    * billfold * pocketbook

    See also

    * purse

    Anagrams

    *

    purse

    English

    (wikipedia purse)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small bag for carrying money.
  • * 1550 Mierdman, Steuen, The market or fayre of usurers
    • And then mu?t many a man occupie as farre as his pur?e would reache, and ?tretche out his legges accordynge to the length of his couerlet.
  • (US) A handbag (small bag usually used by women for carrying various small personal items)
  • A quantity of money given for a particular purpose.
  • * , Episode 12, The Cyclops
    • It was a historic and a hefty battle when Myler and Percy were scheduled to don the gloves for the purse of fifty sovereigns.
  • (historical) A specific sum of money in certain countries: formerly 500 piastres in Turkey or 50 tomans in Persia.

    • Synonyms

    * (small bag for carrying money) pocketbook; coin purse, change purse * (especially US) * (small bag used by women) handbag (especially UK) * (quantity of money) bursary, grant

    Derived terms

    * common purse * make a silk purse of a sow's ear * murse

    Related terms

    * bursa, bursar, bursary * reimburse

    See also

    * wallet

    Verb

    (purs)
  • To press (one's lips) in and together so that they protrude.
  • * 1979 , (Monty Python), (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life)
    • When you're feeling in the dumps
    Don't be silly chumps
    Just purse your lips and whistle – that's the thing.
  • To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles; to pucker; to knit.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thou didst contract and purse thy brow.
  • To put into a purse.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will go and purse the ducats straight.
  • (intransitive, obsolete, rare) To steal purses; to rob.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
    • I'll purse : I'll bet at bowling alleys.

    Synonyms

    * pucker

    Anagrams

    * ----