Purse

n. [Fr. bourse, O. Fr. borse, Pr. & It. borsa, Sp. & Pg. bolsa, L. Lat. bursa, byrsa, from Gr. Βύρσα, hide, skin, leather; O. H. Ger. pursa, bursa, N. H. Ger. börse, D. beurs, Dan. & Sw. börs.] 1. A small bag, the opening of which is made to draw up closely: used to carry money in. Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Shak.

2. Hence, a treasury; as, the public purse.
3. A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse.
4. A specific sum of money; as, (a.) The sum of 500 piasters, or a little more than $24. [Turkey.] (b.) The sum of 50 tomans of 10 shillings sterling each, or about $121. [Persia.] Simmonds.

Light purse, or empty purse, poverty, or want of resources.—Long purse, or heavy purse, wealth; riches.—Sword and purse, the military power and wealth of a nation.