Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
PURSE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English purs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin bursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek byrsa Date: before 12th century
1. a. a small bag for money, a receptacle (as a pocketbook) for carrying money and often other small objects, a receptacle (as a pouch) shaped like a purse,
2. resources, funds, a sum of money offered as a prize or present, purselike adjective
II. transitive verb (pursed; pursing)
Date: 14th century
to put into a purse, pucker , knit