pillar-box
Definition
Noun: A pillar-box is a free-standing, usually red, cylindrical or rectangular post box (mailbox) found on streets in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, used for posting letters and small packages.
Usage Examples
- (She placed the letter in the street post box.)
- (The post box is a common feature of the landscape.)
- (He looked inside the street post box for letters.)
Advanced Usage
"Pillar-box red": a shade of bright red traditionally used to paint these post boxes, often used as a colour name in fashion or design.
- The dress was a striking pillar-box red. (The dress was a vivid, bright red colour.)
"Pillar-box" as a historical term: In the 19th century, pillar-boxes were introduced in Britain to replace earlier wall-mounted or mobile post boxes.
- The Victorian pillar-box still stands on the corner of the old square. (The historic post box from the Victorian era remains in place.)
Variants and Related Words
Pillar (n): a tall, vertical structure used as a support or monument.
- The stone pillar held up the roof of the ancient temple. (The vertical support beam.)
Box (n): a container with a flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular.
- She kept her jewellery in a small wooden box. (A container for storing items.)
Synonyms
- Post box: a general term for a box in which mail is placed for collection.
- Mailbox: a container for receiving or sending mail, often used in American English.
- Letter box: a box for posting letters, often smaller or wall-mounted.
Related Idioms
- "To post something in the pillar-box": a literal action, but can be used figuratively to mean "to send off or dispatch something."
- He posted his application in the pillar-box just before the deadline. (He sent his application by mail at the last moment.)