post-house

A traveler stops at the post-house to send a letter.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A house or station where horses were kept for the use of travelers on a postal route: Historically, a "post-house" was a stopping place on a mail or stagecoach route where horses could be changed or rested, and where travelers could obtain fresh horses or accommodations.

Usage Examples

• (A station along a postal route for horse exchange.)
• (A key infrastructure for postal services.)

Advanced Usage

• "to keep a post-house": to operate or manage a station that provides horses and services for postal travelers.
  • The innkeeper kept a post-house, offering both lodging and fresh horses for the mail coach. (The innkeeper ran a facility for postal travelers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Post (n): a system of mail delivery; also, a position or job.

  • The post arrived on time every day. (The mail delivery system.)

• Post-horse (n): a horse kept at a post-house for hire or for use by postal riders.

  • He rented a post-horse to continue his journey. (A horse from a post-house.)

Synonyms

• Stage station: a stopping point on a stagecoach route.
• Relay station: a place where horses or riders are changed to maintain speed in a postal system.

Related Idioms

• From post to pillar: moving from one place or situation to another, often with difficulty.
  • The messenger went from post to pillar, seeking a fresh horse. (He moved from one station to another.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Post up: to display or affix a notice; also, to ride a horse in a post-house system.
  • He posted up the new schedule at the post-house. (He displayed the schedule at the station.)

Word Variants (Historical Context)

• Posting-house: an alternative term for post-house, used in older English texts.
  • The posting-house was crowded with travelers. (The post-house was busy.)