valise
(vəˈliːs, vəˈliːz)
Forms: 7 vallies, valice, 8 valize, valaise, 9 Sc. wal-, wallise, vallise, 7– valise.
[a. F. valise (1568), ad. It. valigia (Sp. balija), corresponding to med.L. valisia (1407), valixia, valesia (1298), of doubtful origin.
In Sandys Travels (1615) 115 the form valeisa is used.]
1. A travelling case or portmanteau, now usually made of leather and of a size suitable for carrying by hand, formerly also for strapping to the saddle of a horse. Now chiefly U.S.
| 1633 B. Jonson Tale of Tub ii. i, I promise To keep my master's privities seal'd up In the vallies of my trust, lock'd close for ever. 1644 D. Hume Hist. Douglas 95 The Country people..sometimes robbed them of their horses, sometimes of their valises and luggage. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 317 Poor Alari lost above two thousand franks which he had in his Valice. 1713 C'tess of Winchilsea Misc. Poems 130 Bringing their Noddles, and Valizes pack'd With Mysteries, from Shops and Taylors wreck'd. 1785 Arab. Nts. Entert. 576 Having brought a valaise along with him, he put as much gold into it as his horse could carry. 1797 Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 156 Your impatience to receive your valise and its key was natural. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxii, He drew the girths of his saddle, adjusted the walise, and put on the bridle. 1839 Dickens Nich. Nick. xiii, He packed up a few clothes in a small leathern valise. 1884 E. Yates Rec. & Exp. I. 46 The letters being enclosed in leather valises, which were strapped behind the post-boys. |
b. Mil. A cylindrical cloth or leather case adapted for carrying the kit or outfit of a soldier, esp. of a cavalryman or artilleryman.
| 1833 Reg. & Instr. Cavalry i. 83 The valise being..lightly stuffed with hay. 1851 Ord. & Regul. R.E. xxvii. 124 The Boxes of the Non-Commissioned Officers, and the Valises of the Men, to be placed under the foot of the Bedstead. 1877 Field Exerc. Infantry 410 The Officer Commanding a piquet will decide if patrols are to wear Valises or not. |
2. attrib. in valise dee, valise equipment, valise-lock, valise-saddle, valise strap, etc.
| 1852 Burn Milit. Dict. ii. s.v., Valise or baggage-straps. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2688/1 Valise-lock, a small trunk-lock. Ibid., A valise-saddle is placed on each off-horse of an artillery-carriage. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 853 The modern valise equipment is less injurious to the young soldier than the old knapsack. 1898 Daily News 12 Dec. 9/2 The greatcoat straps will be passed downwards, through the valise dees. |