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A handbag, or purse in American English, is a medium to large bag, often fashionably designed, typically used by women, and used to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, gloves, cosmetics, a hairbrush, cellular device or personal digital assistant, feminine hygiene products, etc.
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A medium-to-small-sized handbag with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand is often called a clutch.
A larger handbag with two handles is often called a tote[citation needed].
A pocketbook is similar to a handbag.
A security bag protects the carrier from travel theft. The handbag includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.
In North America, handbags are traditionally only carried by women. However, increasingly, younger men carry one as a smaller alternative to a backpack; such a handbag is sometimes termed a manbag or, in American slang, murse[1] (portmanteaus "handbag" and "man" with "purse" respectively), also male purse or man-purse.
Many of the styles are actually messenger bags.
Young girls also use small purses or clutches, but usually just for play or dress-up.[citation needed]
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