Briefcase
Narrow hard-sided box-shaped bag or case
A briefcase or an attaché case (/əˈtæʃeɪ/) is a narrow hard-sided box-shaped bag or case used mainly for carrying papers and equipped with a handle.
01History
The earliest form of a bag resembling a briefcase was the ancient Roman loculus. The loculus was a rectangular satchel used to carry a soldier's rations and belongings. By the fifteenth century, this style of satchel saw widespread use for carrying personal belongings and documents. Satchels closely resembling modern briefcases began being used by soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1860, 10 Downing Street began to use a red briefcase to hold British budgetary papers, which created an association between briefcases and economy and business. Briefcases became status symbols for those associated with white-collar professions such as business and law in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Modern variations of the briefcase include the portfolio for loose papers, the padfolio with a writing pad, the attaché with a box-like structure, and the travel briefcase with extra compartments.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Briefcase”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Briefcase-photo.jpg by w:en:User:Dev920, CC BY-SA 2.5
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
