Gladstone bag

noun

1. a small rectangular suitcase hinged to open into two compartments of equal size.

Gladstone bag

noun

1. a piece of hand luggage consisting of two equal-sized hinged compartments

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gladstone bag¹

First recorded in 1880–85; after W.E. Gladstone

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gladstone bag¹

C19: named after W. E. Gladstone

Example Sentences

The ship’s pursers used Gladstone bags like this one, recovered in 1987, to transport valuables.

From New York Times

They chose the Gladstone bag, and the final signifier of the medical profession was in place.

From BBC

The steward allowed the Gladstone bag to fall from his hand, and stood regarding the detective in amazement.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the sight of these same streets was like wine in the veins to a man who drove through them in a hansom piled with Gladstone bags and P. and O. trunks.

From Project Gutenberg

Men hurried into the mosque carrying brown Gladstone bags.

From Project Gutenberg