Meaning & use
gladstone bag
Last updated
UK/ˈɡlædstən bæɡ/
US/ˈɡlædstən bæɡ/
Meaning
nouncountable
A sturdy traveling bag that opens flat into two equal compartments, typically made of leather.
Grammar: Countable; plural is 'gladstone bags'. Often written with capital G, but lowercase is also acceptable.
Patterns
- a gladstone bag
- carry a gladstone bag
The doctor arrived with his black gladstone bag.
She packed her clothes neatly into the gladstone bag.
In the 19th century, a gladstone bag was a common accessory for travelers.
Word forms
| plural | gladstone bags |
|---|
Common combinations
- leather gladstone bag
- He bought a vintage leather gladstone bag at the flea market.
- carry a gladstone bag
- The gentleman carried a gladstone bag in one hand.
- open a gladstone bag
- She opened her gladstone bag to find the documents.
Synonyms and how they differ
- suitcase
- A more general term for any rectangular luggage, not specifically the flat-opening Gladstone style.
- portmanteau
- A similar old-fashioned traveling bag, but often larger and opening like a suitcase.
Practice
What is a gladstone bag?
Choose one answer.
A gladstone bag is a specific type of luggage that opens flat, not a hat (A), a coin purse (C), or a backpack (D).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gladstone bag”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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