noun
A somewhat dated term for a small bag or purse carried on one's person; in modern Japanese 財布 or ハンドバッグ are more common.
祖母はいつも懐中物を大事そうに持っていた。
My grandmother always carried her purse with great care.
ハンドバッグ is a common loanword for a handbag, whereas 懐中物 sounds dated and is rarely used today.
Compound of 懐中 (かいちゅう, 'in one's pocket or bosom') and 物 (もの, 'thing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it refers to an item carried on one's person.