Briefcase
From Design+Encyclopedia, the free encyclopedia on good design, art, architecture, creativity, engineering and innovation.
Briefcase
A briefcase is a type of bag that is designed to carry important documents, laptops, and other items that need to be kept organized and secure. It is typically made of leather or other durable materials and features a handle on the top for easy carrying. Briefcases come in various sizes and styles, ranging from traditional hard-sided cases to soft-sided options with shoulder straps or wheels for easier transport. One interesting aspect of briefcases is their history. They were first used in the 14th century by lawyers in England to carry legal documents, and were initially known as lawyer's bags. Over time, they became more widely used by businesspeople and other professionals to transport important papers and other items. Another important aspect of briefcases is their design. Many modern briefcases feature multiple compartments, pockets, and slots to help keep items organized and easily accessible. Some also include built-in locks or combination locks for added security. Despite the rise of digital technology, briefcases remain an essential accessory for many professionals, particularly those in the legal and business fields. They provide a convenient and secure way to transport important documents and other items, and are often seen as a symbol of professionalism and success.
bag, documents, laptop, organization, security
Briefcase
The word “Briefcase” can be classified as a common noun, which is defined as a carrying case for carrying papers and other personal items. Synonyms for “Briefcase” include attaché case, suitcase, bag, brief, portfolio, and document holder. Antonyms of the word “Briefcase” include backpack and knapsack. Cognates of the word “Briefcase” may include bríefa (Old Irish), brefas (Old English), and brīfaç (Old Frisian). Variants of the word “Briefcase” may include brief-case, brief case, briefcases, and briefcases.
Etymology, Morphology, Concept, Terminology, Cognates
Briefcase
Briefcase is a highly convenient and essential item mostly used by business people. It is a portable container, typically made of leather, and often carried by hand, to transport papers and documents. Primarily, the design of a Briefcase allows one to store documents securely and in an organized fashion.
In French, the words ‘malette’, ‘porte-documents’, ‘cartable’, ‘ attaché-case’, ‘serviette’, ‘sacoche’ and ‘valise professionnelle’ can be used interchangeably to refer to briefcases. Similar terms in Spanish are ‘cartera’, ‘maleta de documentos’, ‘maletí
Briefcase
The word ‘briefcase’ is a compound noun, with the root word ‘brief’. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word ‘brief’ derives from Latin ‘brevis’ which means ‘short’, and was first recorded in English in the mid-16th century, indicating that the word ‘briefcase’ is relatively new. A briefcase is defined as ‘a small case with a handle, used for carrying papers, documents, and personal items’. The relevance of the word ‘brief’ in this definition comes from the fact that early cases were used to hold legal documents and a ‘brief’ meant a legal document in Latin. The ‘case’ part of the compound word could be a reference to a Latin word ‘capsa’, roughly meaning ‘box’ and ‘container’. Oftentimes, cases are made from leather, wood, or plastic and are available in different shapes and sizes, depending on the items one needs to carry, indicating their versatility and design-based pragmatism.
Etymology, Morphology, Historical, Evolution, Pragmatism.
Briefcase
A briefcase is a type of bag that is typically used for carrying important documents, laptop computers, and other items that need to be kept organized and secure. It is usually made of leather, or a similar material, and is designed to be worn on one's shoulder or carried in one's hand. The interior of the briefcase is usually divided into compartments, pockets, and slots to help keep items organized. Briefcases are often used by professionals, such as lawyers, businesspeople, and other individuals who need to keep important items easily accessible.
Briefcase, Document Storage, Business, Professional, Organization, Security.
CITATION : "Robert Johnson. 'Briefcase.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=180998 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Briefcase
A briefcase is a type of bag, often made of leather or other durable material, used to transport documents and other items such as laptop computers, tablets, and paperwork. It typically has a handle on the top and is sometimes secured with a latch or combination lock. Some briefcases also have shoulder straps or wheels for easier transport. Briefcases are commonly used by professionals such as lawyers, bankers, and businesspeople to transport documents and other items to and from meetings.
Briefcase, bag, documents, laptop, transport, combination lock, shoulder strap, wheels, professionals, lawyers, bankers, businesspeople.
Briefcase on Design+Encyclopedia
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