Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Purse \Purse\, n. [OE. purs, pors, OF. burse, borse, bourse, F.
bourse, LL. bursa, fr. Gr. ? hide, skin, leather. Cf.
{Bourse}, {Bursch}, {Bursar}, {Buskin}.]
1. A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw
together closely, used to carry money in; by extension,
any receptacle for money carried on the person; a wallet;
a pocketbook; a portemonnaie. --Chaucer.
Who steals my purse steals trash. --Shak.
2. Hence, a treasury; finances; 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) In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters.
(b) In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans.
{Light purse}, or {Empty purse}, poverty or want of
resources.
{Long purse}, or {Heavy purse}, wealth; riches.
{Purse crab} (Zo["o]l.), any land crab of the genus {Birgus},
allied to the hermit crabs. They sometimes weigh twenty
pounds or more, and are very strong, being able to crack
cocoanuts with the large claw. They chiefly inhabit the
tropical islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, living
in holes and feeding upon fruit. Called also {palm crab}.
{Purse net}, a fishing net, the mouth of which may be closed
or drawn together like a purse. --Mortimer.
{Purse pride}, pride of money; insolence proceeding from the
possession of wealth. --Bp. Hall.
{Purse rat}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Pocket gopher}, under {Pocket}.
{Sword and purse}, the military power and financial resources
of a nation.