A diplomatic official or a small, flat rectangular bag used for carrying documents or important papers.
From French 'attaché,' meaning 'attached' (from Latin 'attachiare'). Originally referred to a lower-ranking diplomat 'attached' to an embassy; the briefcase got the same name because diplomats used them.
The term perfectly captures diplomatic hierarchy—an 'attaché' was literally someone 'attached' to an ambassador rather than fully independent, and that rectangular briefcase became synonymous with important government work and espionage in popular culture.
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