> as lemmas

c1530 Wit & Folly (Percy Soc.) XX. p. lx I shall brynge them to heuen gate..And lede them thyther by purse strynges.

1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iii. iv. 1378 If he will not vnty the purse stringes of his liberality.

a1659 R. Brownrig 65 Serm. (1674) I. v. 71 He endeavours to corrupt him..and so to tie the Holy Ghost to his Purs-strings.

1696 P. A. Motteux Love's a Jest ii. 23 You grudge to untye your Purse-strings to him, you old Micher.

1711 J. Swift Let. 29 Dec. (1766) I. lvi. 146 Those, whose purse-strings and heart-strings were the same, all on a sudden scattering their money to bribe votes.

1763 F. Sheridan Discov. i. i. 4 This is the curse of marrying early, to have our children tugging at our purse-strings, at a time when we have as quick a relish for the joys of life as they have.

1785 Theologico-controversistical Conf. at Hague II. 184 The balm of psalmody..as the saying is, unloosed the purse string.

1805 ‘C. Caustic’ Democracy Unveiled v. 175 This great man from Geneva, Who worm'd his way to elevation, And holds the purse strings of the nation.

1849 R. Cobden Speeches 20 The House of Commons..has to look after the purse-strings of the people.

1872 J. L. Sanford Estimates Eng. Kings: James I 324 In the cause of the Palatine..the purse-strings of the English people would have been willingly undrawn.

1902 G. Brenan House of Percy II. ii. 58 Refusing to loosen his purse-strings any further.

1950 Cape Argus 22 Apr. (Mag.) 1/1 While it lasted, Barry and Nephews held the purse-strings of the Overberg.

1993 S. Stewart Ramlin Rose xii. 115 He held the purse strings and Mikey and Susan and their two young daughters was tied to him.

2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 18 Nov. c10/4 Even then, to her great frustration, the bankers would not loosen their purse strings.