Hola Larry, I think it is el halda because the emphasis is on the first consonant, thus the la becomes el. 

I have searched on this too using WordReference and the DELE dictionary app - and a number of words associated with it and think it refers to a type of bag made of sackcloth folded - and presumably stitched - for the purpose of storage. It’s an odd one for sure. I may be putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5. Saludos. John