centurion Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Looking at a report in US papers about the Kaiser having his crocodile handbag stolen. Now I can't see the Kaiser as a cross dresser with a handbag (raises some intriguing possibilities though) but as I understand that the American for a handbag is a purse (whereas in English a purse goes in a handbag) I guess that handbag does not mean the same in American as it does in English. It would help something I'm working on to have the correct meaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Suitcase, valise? I can't imagine that the Kaiser had a Gladstone bag. Cabin trunk or portmanteau seems rather less capable of being put into swinging mode unless he had a special Schlieffen handbag. Maybe the Kaiser's personal crocodile (Ludendorff?) had his own handbag and there is a possessive 's lost on the way Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anneca Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 I must say I like the "personal crocodile Ludendorff" bag! I can see the possibility of a "hand" bag, meaning bag carried in the hand as opposed to the shoulder or back - nothing to do with cross dressing, just literally what it states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Came across something similar to this once with an American MD - the carrier bags he requested turned out to be a request for shoulder bags. Suspect that this is something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 1 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Came across something similar to this once with an American MD - the carrier bags he requested turned out to be a request for shoulder bags. Suspect that this is something similar. I know its something similar but what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Well it can't have been a trunk because that would have been the boot, and his hood was a bonnet ... Two countries divided by a common language indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc2 Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Well, even today some (usually older) men in parts of Europe carry money, identity papers, and other "essentials" in a small leather buttoned or zippered pouch, carried in the hand. That is not common in America, so an American trying to describe such a pouch might very well call it a "handbag", as it would remind them of a lady's "handbag". It certainly does not fit the American term "wallet" (which fits into your pants pocket). I have actually heard Americans in recent years call these things "handbags". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tn.drummond Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 If a handbag it would need to have been right handed... Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelclark Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 It has to be some sort of hand carried luggage like an overnight type valise or briefcase. I am slowly becoming bilingual although i did have to google "hashtag" yesterday. Hazel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Hello centurion I would guess that it was a small suitcase or attache case, of the sort which you would be allowed to take on a plane these days as hand luggage. I envisage soimething along the lines of a British ministerial "red box". Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 (edited) Is the word 'briefcase'? Ian Edit: Sorry, Hazel, didn't spot your previous contribution Edited 1 April , 2013 by Ian Riley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 If a handbag it would need to have been right handed... Sorry. As if the Kaiser carried his own!!! I suspect that there would have been a battle squadron of Imperial Household Prussian Guard Bagcarriers lined up behind, perhaps carefully graded and authorised for 'Crocodile', 'Lizard' and 'Calf' according to experience and rank Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Could have been a portfolio or small brief case perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 1 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 April , 2013 According to the report there were two "handbags" stolen, off a train returning from an Imperial visit to Strasbourg just before the war and they contained "personal effects". A bold thief indeed or perhaps some one from the intelligence community. Don't want to steal my own thunder just yet but not the only theft of this nature (but not from the Kaiser) at about the same time that might have netted important papers or the like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anneca Posted 1 April , 2013 Share Posted 1 April , 2013 Centurion, were the stolen items reported as hand bags, or handbags? I think there might be a difference in the connotation of these words. Anne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BereniceUK Posted 3 April , 2013 Share Posted 3 April , 2013 An oblique reference to German East Africa perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 3 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2013 An oblique reference to German East Africa perhaps? You've lost me there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithjk Posted 3 April , 2013 Share Posted 3 April , 2013 HANDeni - BAGamoyo tramway ? Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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