handbag
n. countablen. a small bag that people use to carry personal items like money, keys, and a phone. It is often carried by hand or over the shoulder.
n. a small bag used for carrying personal items, typically used by women. Often used as a synonym for 'purse' in American English.
She left her handbag on the chair.
The security guard asked her to open her handbag so he could check for prohibited items.
While the fashion house is famous for its clothing line, the majority of its annual revenue actually comes from the sale of luxury leather handbags.
From hand + bag. The music genre is named from women dancing around a pile of their handbags in nightclubs. The verb is a reference to Margaret Thatcher's handbag.
Commonly used in British English; American English speakers often prefer the term 'purse'.