packet-boat

The packet-boat sails across the harbor with a cargo of mail.

Definition

Noun: A "packet-boat" is a vessel that was historically used for carrying mail, passengers, and goods on a regular schedule between specified ports. It operated on a fixed route and timetable, similar to a modern postal service or commuter ferry.

Usage Examples

• (A scheduled mail and passenger ship.)
• (Vessels that carried mail across the ocean on a regular basis.)
• (A passenger and mail ship operating on a fixed schedule.)

Advanced Usage

• "Packet-boat service": the system of regular mail and passenger routes operated by such vessels.

  • The packet-boat service between London and Hamburg was discontinued after the war. (The scheduled mail and passenger ship route stopped.)

• "Packet-boat captain": the person who commanded a packet-boat.

  • The packet-boat captain was responsible for the timely delivery of the mail. (The commander of a scheduled mail ship.)

Variants and Related Words

• Packet (n): a ship that carries mail and passengers on a regular schedule.

  • The packet arrived in port two days late. (A scheduled mail and passenger ship.)

• Packet-ship (n): another term for a packet-boat, often used for larger vessels.

  • The packet-ship carried both letters and cargo. (A scheduled mail and cargo vessel.)

Synonyms

• Mail ship: a vessel specifically designed or used for transporting mail.
• Scheduled vessel: a ship that operates on a fixed timetable.

Related Idioms

• "Packet-boat routine": a regular, predictable schedule or pattern of travel.
  • His daily commute felt like a packet-boat routine — the same time, the same route. (A fixed, repetitive schedule.)