# Why do Americans call purses "pocketbooks"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 15, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573 "2012-08-15T15:15:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/21 "2012-08-15T17:03:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > This is new information to me. I hear blouse all the time. I guess this area didn’t get the memo back in 1942 You hear men’s shirts being called blouses all the time? The outdated usage I think is being described is that any loose-fitting top, even when worn by a man, could be a “blouse.” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/22 "2012-08-15T17:04:00Z")
Clutch bag is a term I hear once in awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/23 "2012-08-15T17:15:20Z")
I’m 56. I heard both my grandmothers say pocketbook, but if my Mom ever used the word, she dropped it when I was young. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/24 "2012-08-15T17:22:58Z")
Back home in Indiana, a pocketbook was a wallet-like thingy with pockets for change and other stuff that one carried in her purse. Down here in the South, a purse, no matter how big, is often called a pocketbook. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/25 "2012-08-15T17:28:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You hear men’s shirts being called blouses all the time? I was unaware that we were talking about men’s clothing. In fact I searched for the word in the entire thread and there was not one reference to men’s shirts. Was that the assumption? I just e-mailed a female friend and asked her what a woman’s shirt is called, and she used a few terms including blouse. And I’m pretty sure she’s not over 80. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/26 "2012-08-15T17:57:33Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I was unaware that we were talking about men’s clothing. In fact I searched for the word in the entire thread and there was not one reference to men’s shirts. Was that the assumption? Well, the line you quoted from **Siam Sam** included “A ladies’ top, yes.” That is, ladies’ tops are often commonly called blouses but other shirts (presumably men’s shirts and unisex shirts) are not. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/27 "2012-08-15T18:03:48Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Well, the line you quoted from **Siam Sam** included “A ladies’ top, yes.” That is, ladies’ tops are often commonly called blouses but other shirts (presumably men’s shirts and unisex shirts) are not. Ah, thanks. I interpreted that as saying that a woman’s shirt might be called a lady’s top, but would never be called a blouse. Thanks for pulling me back out of the Twilight Zone. I never knew that mens’ shirts were once called blouses. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/28 "2012-08-15T18:09:26Z")
Another vote for “My GrandMother and her peers used the term.” My five-year-old rather huffily informed me that my purse is, in fact, a “satchel.” She will not accept any other term for it. Don’t know if that’s a new generational shift or just a word she’s decided she likes. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/29 "2012-08-15T18:11:25Z")
Thats what we have in Arkansas too. Pocketbook has a place for coins, bills, checkbook, and credit cards. You carry it in your hand or it fits inside a purse. Here’s a matching pocketbook and purse set. They call it a wallet, but thats the classic pocketbook I’ve seen relatives carry all my life. [http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-TOMMY-HILFIGER-Black-Bowler-Purse-Handbag-Checkbook-Wallet-SET-NWT-/300760737559](http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-TOMMY-HILFIGER-Black-Bowler-Purse-Handbag-Checkbook-Wallet-SET-NWT-/300760737559) > [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Back home in Indiana, a pocketbook was a wallet-like thingy with pockets for change and other stuff that one carried in her purse. > > Down here in the South, a purse, no matter how big, is often called a pocketbook. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/30 "2012-08-15T18:15:35Z")
This thread is enlightening. I’m English, and I always assumed “pocketbook” was an American term for “wallet”. Now it turns out its a synonym for “purse”, which of course is the American word for what we would call a handbag. What we call a purse is what Americans would call… umm, a [coin purse](http://www.sechic.com/files/imagecache/article-image/media/patent-leather-coin-purse.jpg)? While we’re at it, what’s a billfold? Is that another term for a leather wallet, or is it one of those funny metal clip things that just holds banknotes but nothing else? ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/31 "2012-08-15T18:22:52Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Another vote for “My GrandMother and her peers used the term.” > > My five-year-old rather huffily informed me that my purse is, in fact, a “satchel.” She will not accept any other term for it. Don’t know if that’s a new generational shift or just a word she’s decided she likes. I always thought of a satchel as being an old timey word for a book bag, which is now an old timey concept for a back pack. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/32 "2012-08-15T18:23:50Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > This thread is enlightening. I’m English, and I always assumed “pocketbook” was an American term for “wallet”. Now it turns out its a synonym for “purse”, which of course is the American word for what we would call a handbag. What we call a purse is what Americans would call… umm, a [coin purse](http://www.sechic.com/files/imagecache/article-image/media/patent-leather-coin-purse.jpg)? > > While we’re at it, what’s a billfold? Is that another term for a leather wallet, or is it one of those funny metal clip things that just holds banknotes but nothing else? Then here’s another tidbit of Americana – “pocketbook” often ends up being elided into “Pock-a-book”. I almost never hear it pronounced so I can hear the “t” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/33 "2012-08-15T18:24:00Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > While we’re at it, what’s a billfold? Is that another term for a leather wallet, or is it one of those funny metal clip things that just holds banknotes but nothing else? A billfold is a man’s wallet. A money clip is a separate kind of item. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/34 "2012-08-15T18:27:00Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > This thread is enlightening. I’m English, and I always assumed “pocketbook” was an American term for “wallet”. Now it turns out its a synonym for “purse”, which of course is the American word for what we would call a handbag. What we call a purse is what Americans would call… umm, a [coin purse](http://www.sechic.com/files/imagecache/article-image/media/patent-leather-coin-purse.jpg)? > > While we’re at it, what’s a billfold? Is that another term for a leather wallet, or is it one of those funny metal clip things that just holds banknotes but nothing else? A billfold is a thin leather wallet, a money clip is the metal thingie. I hear pocketbook all the time in the south, but purse is (I think) more prevalent. I only hear “clutch” “satchel” “hobo-bag” “saddle purse” or other specifics when women are specifically talking about the \*styles \*of their particular bag. I know what a handbag is, but I don’t remember ever hearing anyone actually say “handbag.” FWIW, Wikipedia seems to think that “handbag” is the American English term, but then they also list “pouch” as an alternate term (?), and they don’t list “pocketbook” at all. I think they need to check their sources a bit more. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/35 "2012-08-15T18:29:14Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > My five-year-old rather huffily informed me that my purse is, in fact, a “satchel.” She will not accept any other term for it. I thought a “satchel” was only the type of bag that Indiana Jones wears. [http://shirtshovel.com/movies-thehangover-satchel.shtml](http://shirtshovel.com/movies-thehangover-satchel.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/36 "2012-08-15T18:29:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Here’s a matching pocketbook and purse set. They call it a wallet, but thats the classic pocketbook I’ve seen relatives carry all my life. > [http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-TOMMY-HILFIGER-Black-Bowler-Purse-Handbag-Checkbook-Wallet-SET-NWT-/300760737559](http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH-TOMMY-HILFIGER-Black-Bowler-Purse-Handbag-Checkbook-Wallet-SET-NWT-/300760737559) Yeah, that’s what I think of when I hear “pocketbook.” Growing up, my mom would say, “Take a couple dollars out the pocketbook in my purse and go down to the store and get a gallon of milk.” (Ahh, when a couple of bucks got a gallon of milks, and enough change for me to get a candy bar.) I guess what she called a pocketbook is what most women now would call wallet or clutch, though I say clutch is closer, since I will always see “wallet” as something small enough to easily fit in a pants pocket, yes, even if it’s a woman’s. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/37 "2012-08-15T18:50:11Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > FWIW, Wikipedia seems to think that “handbag” is the American English term, but then they also list “pouch” as an alternate term (?) Now I’m confused. I thought “handbag” was confined to Britain, and that Americans call them “purses”? Certainly in American films, women always seem to refer to what I’d call a handbag as a “purse”. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/38 "2012-08-15T19:09:36Z")
OK, so now we’re really getting into the details. When I’m in the US purse = handbag of any sort. Unless Celtling is in the conversation, in which case all purses are satchels, but not all satchels are handbags. The satchels that are too big to be handbags are messenger bags, provided they have a long strap which goes across the chest. If it has two straps and can be worn on the back then it’s a backpack, unless it’s big enough for me to fit into, in which case it’s a duffel bag. When I’m Ireland, a purse is a tiny thing of folded leather which you squeeze to open or with a metal clip at the top, and which only holds coins. Unless it’s attached to leather bill holder, in which case it’s a wallet. A leather billholder without an attached purse is a billfold. An American purse with no handles is a clutch. A clutch with a billfold attached is a pocketbook, unless you are American and more than 70 years old, in which case all of the above except the duffel and messenger bag is a pocketbook; unless it’s carried by a man in which case it’s a satchel. Please don’t make me go into sacks and tote bags. I’m begging you. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/39 "2012-08-15T21:21:36Z")
And Ladies and Gents, we have a winner! Congratulations to \*\*TrueCelt \*\*for making something entirely arbitrary and incomprehensible simply entirely arbitrary! _enthusiastic applause_ Also, **Colophon** , I don’t know what the Wiki people are smoking either. I have never in my life heard an American refer to a “handbag” and the word “pouch” is reserved for Kangaroos or those damnable Capri-Sun faux-aluminum drink baggie things. ---
**Author:** ![TXCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@TXCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXCowboy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573/40 "2012-08-15T21:52:27Z")
As stated above I have heard older generation ladies refer to the small multi-pocket/coin purse/checkbook wallet as a pocketbook and it is carried in a purse. I can’t recall anyone my age or younger calling it a pocketbook. As far as mens wallets and billfolds… to me, a billfold is one that does just as it says, it folds the bills when you put it in your pocket. They can be bi-fold or tri-fold. A wallet is long and carries the bills flat and sticks up out of the pocket (like a truckers/bikers wallet). All billfolds can be considered wallets, but not all wallets are billfolds. Oh and on blouses, to me, that usually refers to a ladies top, but if I remember correctly, military dress uniform coats are (or at least recently were) called blouses also. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-call-purses-pocketbooks/631573.md?page=3)