show bagn.
/ˈʃəʊ baɡ/, U.S. /ˈʃoʊ ˌbæɡ/ΚΠ
1904 C. M. W. Alden Women's Ways Earning Money ii. 34 There is a call for experienced hands on..embroidery, lace handkerchiefs,..show bags, fringes on piano scarfs, [etc.].
1907 Ann. Rep. Board Educ. New Jersey 1906 App. 297 The following articles were made by pupils above the third year; pin cushions,..show bags [etc.].
1919 Luggage & Leather Goods June 515 A common practice..is to use a special assortment of ladies' hand bags for the show windows only. That is to say, they are show bags.
2. Originally and chiefly Australian (often as one word). A promotional bag containing goods such as trade samples, confectionery, toys and novelties, etc., typically designed or intended for children and sold at events like annual shows; also called a sample bag.
ΚΠ
1927 Sunday Times (Sydney) 24 Apr. 3 Showbags full of samples and chocolates and books soon piled up in our hands as we visited the various stalls.
1950 Truth (Sydney) 2 Apr. 23/1 (advt.) A splendid show bag containing sweets and novelties..is offered at the Royal Easter Show... White Rose Confectionery Co.
1987 S. Morgan My Place 83 We bought show bags crammed with Smarties, Cherry Ripes..and Violet Crumble bars, we weren't interested in the educational ones.
2005 Sydney Morning Herald 18 Feb. 4/1 A group of children acting as ‘showbag tasters’ at yesterday's pre-event launch at the Sydney Showground..ran amok, sampling lollies and sifting feverishly through merchandise.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1904