reticule

noun

ret·​i·​cule ˈre-ti-ˌkyül How to pronounce reticule (audio)
1
2
: a woman's drawstring bag used especially as a carryall

Examples of reticule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But reticules were often small, fitting little more than a few coins, reflecting the fact that women were prohibited from owning very much in those days. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 In seventeen-nineties England, the reticule, a pouch usually carried on the wrist, provided some relief. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 This item, which has more in common with a tabletop decoration than a functioning reticule, would be hard put to accommodate a hairbrush; a cellphone would dwarf it. Lynn Yaeger, Town & Country, 22 Jan. 2023 Plus, the crossbody strap is detachable to turn this into a modern version of a 19th-century reticule. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 31 Aug. 2022 Every daywear costume had a reticule handbag, a set of gloves embroidered to match the fabric, a hat or hair decoration and coordinating shoes. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022 In the late 18th century, the reticule, a small drawstring bag, became popular. Peter Saenger, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2020 My favorite little costume detail from the movie is the reticules, designed by Liria Pristine. Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, 20 Mar. 2020 Bonnets, spencers, and decorative reticules abound, with a stunning amount of attention paid to extravagant makeup and costuming. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reticule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French réticule, from Latin reticulum small net, mesh bag, from diminutive of rete net

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reticule was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near reticule

Cite this Entry

“Reticule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reticule. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reticule

noun
ret·​i·​cule ˈret-i-ˌkyü(ə)l How to pronounce reticule (audio)
: a woman's drawstring bag
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