ETYMOLOGY
– from purse (receptacle for money) + leech (a person who will ‘stick to’ another for the purpose of getting gain out of him)
EXAMPLE
“…False Counsellors (Concealers of the law),
Turn-coate Attornes, that with both hands draw,
Slie Peti-foggers, Wranglers at the barr,
Proud purse-leaches, Harpies of Westminster,
With fained chiding, and foul iarring noise
Breake not his braine, nor interrupt his ioyes…”
From: Bartas his deuine weekes and workes
– Guillaume de Saluste Du Bartas
Translated and dedicated to the Kings most excellent Maiestie By Iosuah Syluester
(translated by Joshua Sylvester)
Lexicophilia 