Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A purse; a handbag.
  • noun A pocket-sized folder or case used to hold money and papers; a billfold.
  • noun Financial resources; money supply.
  • noun A pocket-sized, usually paperbound book.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A fresh-water mussel, Lampsilis capax or L. ventricosus, which has round valves of great depth.
  • noun A book to be carried in the pocket; a note-book.
  • noun A book worthy to be constantly used, small enough to be carried in the pocket.
  • noun A small book or pouch, usually of flexible leather, divided into compartments, made for carrying money or memoranda in the pocket
  • noun Pecuniary resources, especially of one person.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A small book or case for carrying papers, money, etc., in the pocket; also, a notebook for the pocket.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun US A woman's purse.
  • noun figuratively One's personal budget or economic capacity - the amount one can afford.
  • noun rare A small book, especially one that can fit in a pocket; a paperback; also a pocket book.
  • noun UK A notebook that is small enough to fit in a pocket.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun pocket-sized paperback book
  • noun pocket-sized paperback book
  • noun your personal financial means
  • noun a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
  • noun a pocket-size case for holding papers and paper money

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • It's more about protecting the school district's pocketbook from a lawsuit by an angry parent who may claim that the school didn't do enough to protect their little Johnny!

    On Knives, School, and West Point 2009

  • It's more about protecting the school district's pocketbook from a lawsuit by an angry parent who may claim that the school didn't do enough to protect their little Johnny!

    On Knives, School, and West Point 2009

  • The actual cost to your personal pocketbook is only something like. 000000001% of your total annual income.

    Economic Attribution Error, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009

  • Maybe it's because we see "ideas" (maybe "ideals") as more important than short term pocketbook issues.

    North Carolina Governor To Endorse Hillary 2009

  • She avers that pocketbook is completely inappropriate, since her purse is not a book that she carries in her pocket.

    Word Court 2007

  • Since my pocketbook is not penalized I´m personally pleased but feel sorry for my compatriots who are trying to scratch out a living.

    Tourism in Southern Mexico 2006

  • Since my pocketbook is not penalized I´m personally pleased but feel sorry for my compatriots who are trying to scratch out a living.

    Tourism in Southern Mexico 2006

  • Since my pocketbook is not penalized I´m personally pleased but feel sorry for my compatriots who are trying to scratch out a living.

    Tourism in Southern Mexico 2006

  • Since my pocketbook is not penalized I´m personally pleased but feel sorry for my compatriots who are trying to scratch out a living.

    Tourism in Southern Mexico 2006

  • You will find 285 pages of sayings, wisecracks and refrains of the Mexican people alphabetized from A-Z in pocketbook form.

    Dichos 2006

Comments

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  • Don't know what WeirdNet's on about. Not a usage I've ever heard.

    May 25, 2009

  • It's a metaphoric sense. It's outdated, but I've heard it.

    May 26, 2009

  • Yes, it's metaphorical. It's along the same lines of pocketbook = wallet.

    Actually, in the 18th century (and possibly later), pocketbook referred to a man's wallet. I've most often heard it, in my lifetime, referring to a woman's purse (not specifically wallet).

    May 26, 2009