[purse] n [ME purs, fr. OE, modif. of ML bursa, fr. LL, ox hide, fr. Gk byrsa] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): a small bag for money (2): a receptacle (as a pocketbook) for carrying money and often other small objects b: a receptacle (as a pouch) shaped like a purse
2. a: resources, funds b: a sum of money offered as a prize or present; also: the total amount of money offered in prizes for a given event -- purse.like adj
[2]purse vt pursed ; purs.ing (14c) 1: to put into a purse
2: pucker, knit