Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a wicker basket, usu. to hold cherries.

1754		B. Martin Eng. Dict. (2nd edn).
1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 57: KYPSEY, a basket.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 72/2: We saw [...] the ‘stuff’ ‘slung’ to the ‘moll,’ who carried a ‘kypsey’ (basket).
1879		‘Autobiog. of a Thief’ in Macmillan’s Mag. (London) XL 501: One day there was a ‘fête’ at Clapham and I was coming home with my kipsy (basket); I had just sold all my goods out.
1893		P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 91: The old donah used to go out with a kipsey in which she carried needles and hairpins, and tapes and cottons [...] and all that.
1899		Manchester Eve. News 4 Aug. 5/4: Kipsey...Basket.

2. (UK Und.) a tramp’s bag or container for his provisions and personal property.

1887		‘Dagonet’ ‘A Plank Bed Ballad’ in Referee 12 Feb. n.p.: By the rattler I ride when I’ve taken my brief, / And I sling on my back an old kipsey.
1893		P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 46: ‘Now you must lay in your kipsey’ [...] he cried ‘Bottle Nose, look lively and get these gen-a-men what they want.’ So he got us some things; bread fivepence half penny, tea three halfpence, lump sugar twopence, butter fourpence, milk a penny. [Ibid.] 105: There’s a bundle of papers in my kipsey.

3. (UK Und.) a woman’s handbag.

1931		‘English Und. Sl.’ in Variety 8 Apr. n.p.: Kipsey — Women’s pocketbook or women’s handbag.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 6: Kipsy: Woman’s handbag.