mail-boat

The mail-boat arrives at the small island dock.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A vessel for carrying mail: "mail-boat" refers to a ship or boat specifically designed or used for transporting postal correspondence across bodies of water, such as seas, oceans, or large lakes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The mail-boat departs every Tuesday from the island to the mainland. (A ship that carries mail on a regular schedule.)
  • During the storm, the mail-boat was delayed, causing letters to arrive late. (A boat used for postal delivery.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go by mail-boat": to travel using a vessel that primarily transports mail, often implying a slower but reliable journey.
  • In the early 20th century, many passengers chose to go by mail-boat to remote islands. (To use a mail-carrying ship for travel.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mailboat (n): a variant spelling of "mail-boat," meaning the same thing.

  • The mailboat arrived with news from the capital. (The postal ship.)

• Mail ship (n): a larger vessel used for carrying mail, often synonymous with "mail-boat" but implying a larger size.

  • The mail ship crossed the Atlantic in six days. (A ship designed for mail transport.)

Synonyms

• Packet boat: a historical term for a boat that carried mail and passengers on a regular schedule.

  • The packet boat was the fastest way to send letters across the channel. (Synonymous with mail-boat in historical contexts.)

• Postal vessel: a general term for any ship used for mail delivery.

  • The postal vessel was equipped with secure compartments for letters. (A ship for mail.)

Related Idioms

• "Like a mail-boat in a storm": a rare idiom meaning to be steady and reliable despite difficult conditions.
  • She kept working like a mail-boat in a storm, never missing a deadline. (Reliable and persistent.)

Phrasal Verbs

• (None directly associated with "mail-boat"; it is primarily a noun.)