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.
      
[1913 Webster]


            Who steals my purse steals trash.     --Shak.
      
[1913 Webster]


   2. Hence, a treasury; finances; as, the public purse.
      
[1913 Webster]


   3. A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a
      present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse.
      
[1913 Webster]


   4. A specific sum of money; as:
      (a) In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters.
      (b) In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans.
          
[1913 Webster]


   {Light purse}, or {Empty purse}, poverty or want of
      resources.

   {Long purse}, or {Heavy purse}, wealth; riches.

   {Purse crab} (Zool.), 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}. (Zool.) See {Pocket gopher}, under {Pocket}.

   {Sword and purse}, the military power and financial resources
      of a nation.
      
[1913 Webster]