Portmanteau (travelling case)

A portmanteau (from 16th century French, plural portmanteaux) is a large travelling case made of leather. Originally designed to carry (porter) your coats (mantles), the portmanteau stands on end, so that the coats are hung vertically, and opens up like a book to make a pair of mini-closets joined by hinges. (See Oxford Shorter English dictionary.)

See also:

• Portmanteau