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Is a man's change purse sometimes called wallet by their owner?

If so, what would they usually call their actual wallet to distinguish it from their change purse?

purse:

a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money: a change purse.

wallet Ngram wallet vs. billfold:

a flat, folding case with compartments for paper money and other items, as credit cards, driver's license, and sometimes coins, carried in a pocket or handbag. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary

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    There is a difference between a "small pouch or case" for coins and a "folding case with a compartment for coins".
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:39
  • I would guess that "billfold" is more commonly used that "wallet" in the US, to denote a relatively flat folding case used for money and credit cards. A few men may carry some sort of a "change purse" of a size that would fit in the palm of the hand, but most don't. Otherwise "purse" is (almost) exclusively female -- the male version is somewhat humorously referred to as a "man bag".
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:48
  • Your edit has actually changed the question significantly.
    – Chris H
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:48
  • I've never heard of somebody calling a coin purse a wallet. If you google, it appears that some people call it a coin pouch; I assume these are men who don't want to use the word purse.
    – Peter Shor
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:51
  • @Hot Licks: where I live, I almost always hear wallet and not billfold. It must be a regional difference.
    – Peter Shor
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:52

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I'm British and your definition 1 of wallet is what I understand it to mean. Wallet is the only word I would use to describe such an item. It would be rare for a man to carry both. Either his wallet has a coin compartment (zipped) or he carries coins loose in his pocket. In my case, both.

A purse, in my British English, is the woman's equivalent. This is often slightly larger (too big for a pocket) and carried in a handbag, but even if it's pocket sized it would still be called a purse.

The typical usage is so gendered that the same small black leather item could easily be described as "her purse" or "his wallet". "His purse" wouldn't be used for a physical item; it sounds like an item from centuries ago, or a figurative use. "Her wallet" would also seem uncommon.

A coin purse or change purse looks like what you get for a google search on "coin purse" (no image inline as the variety is what I'm trying to show).

Your second definition of wallet (Brit: a small bag) is dated as a standalone word; travel wallet is sometimes used (mainly by manufacturers, but also if carried by someone who's also carrying something like a handbag). It may be described as a man-bag if carried by a man.

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  • Note, the definitions I refer to were present in the question when I wrote the answer.
    – Chris H
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 13:49
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    For what it's worth- I'm American, and I concur.
    – cobaltduck
    Commented Jan 6, 2016 at 14:26

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