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Glite Dictionary
holdall

holdall

4.8
A large bag for carrying clothes and other personal things when travelling
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊldɔl/
  • UK
translation icon : bolsa de viaje
  • She slipped the box into her holdall and set it on the floor next to her feet.

OK, so this is my wash bag and this is the matching wash bag that comes with the Holdall.

Examples

  • Elle slung her holdall over the back of a chair where she could keep an eye on it.

  • You could make a fucking suitcase out of you, holdall.

    Sexy Beast (2001)

  • Nadia just has her small camouflaged holdall.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Too many guys take a holdall full of tatties to the practice area ambitiously, only to get twenty in and start shedding the remainder hopelessly.

    Blog text (10)

  • Nadia just has her small camouflaged holdall for her weekend trip.

Synonyms

tote
vsholdall
  • US
40 4.1

A large strong bag for carrying things like books or groceries

is used specifically for carrying clothes and items while travelling
tote bag
vsholdall
12 1.8

A large strong cloth container with two long handles for carrying books or shopping

is intended mainly for travel clothes rather than everyday shopping use
carryall
vsholdall
1 4.4

A large bag for carrying many things like towels and snacks

is mainly for carrying clothes and personal items when travelling

How Big

trunk
110 3.3
suitcase
356 1.0
duffel bag
32 3.1
holdall
  • UK
4.8
handbag
89 1.0
pouch
72 2.1

Surface Forms

holdall singular
holdalls plural

Morphology

holdall = hold + all (transparent) = hold + all

The compound 'hold' + 'all' literally suggests 'a thing that holds all', which clearly maps onto a large bag; learners who know the components will infer the meaning.

Etymology

Holdall comes from the two simple words hold ('to carry' or 'keep') and all ('everything'), so it is like a bag that 'holds everything'. That's why a holdall means a large bag for clothes and other personal things when you travel.