1. A commissioned officer in the navy who had charge of the provisions, clothing, and public moneys on shipboard; now called paymaster.

2. A clerk on steam passenger vessels whose duty it is to keep the accounts of the vessels, such as the receipt of freight, tickets, etc.

3. Colloquially, any paymaster or cashier. Purser's name, a false name.

See: Purse, and cf. Bursar.

(01 Mar 1998)

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