handbag

The story

From hand + bag. The music genre is named from women dancing around a pile of their handbags in nightclubs. The verb is a reference to Margaret Thatcher's handbag.

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. A small bag carried in the hand, used either when travelling or to carry tools for a specific job.
• from 19th c. A small bag used chiefly by women for carrying various small personal items, sometimes considered as a fashion accessory.
• from 20th c. Ellipsis of handbag house.