green bag
/ˌɡriːn ˈbaɡ/noun
1A brief-bag made of green material, formerly used by barristers and lawyers. Now historical.
- Brief-bags used by English lawyers are now blue or red. The change in colour is said to have arisen following public unrest in support of Queen Caroline during her trial in 1820, when the evidence against her was contained in the traditional green bags..
2 Slang. In form green-bag. A lawyer. rare.
- Letters purporting to be written by a Lawyer called Moses Greenbag feature in Spectator (1713) 7, Nos. 499 and 526..
Origin
Mid 17th century. From green + bag.