Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “purseless” come from?

purseless (English) comes from English purse, from Middle English purse, from Old English purs, from Old English burse, from Late Latin bursa, from Ancient Greek βύρσα — the skin stripped off a hide, leather; the skin...

purseless (English): Without a purse

Definitions

  1. Without a purse

Ancestry of “purseless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpurseA small bag for carrying money; A handbag; A...
2Middle Englishpurse—
3Old Englishpurspurse, leather bag; wallet, scrip
4Old Englishbursepouch, bag
5Late Latinbursahide, purse; purse, hide
6Ancient Greekβύρσαthe skin stripped off a hide, leather; the skin...
Every word from Ancient Greek βύρσα →