messagerien.
/mɛˈsɑː(d)ʒəriː/, /məˈsɑː(d)ʒəriː/, U.S. /məˈsɑ(d)ʒəri/ Chiefly in France or in French contexts: a conveyance for the commercial transportation or delivery of goods, messages, or people; (the generic name of) a company which operates a service of this nature. Also attributive and in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > [noun]
carc1320
chara1400
charet?a1400
wagon1542
carry1600
rotan1676
messagerie1777
pillbox1789
bandy1791
Pennsylvania wagon1800
gharry1810
rath1813
vardo1819
rig1831
society > travel > transport > [noun]
carryinga1382
passinga1382
carriage1423
portage1423
traduction1500
transporting1500
conveyancec1520
transportation1540
convoy1554
wafting1559
transportage1562
convey1587
portation1598
transportance1609
transport1611
weftage1615
conducta1618
vecture1625
vectitation1656
transit1753
messagerie1878
conveyal1886
intermodalism1979
1777 J. Wiilliams Let. 27 Feb. in W. B. Willcox Papers B. Franklin (1983) XXIII. 399 I have ordered one of each to be sent by the messagerie.
1787 A. Young Jrnl. 28 May in Trav. France (1792) i. 11 In ten miles we met not one stage or diligence; only two messageries, and very few chaises.
1855 Southern Literary Messenger 21 633/2 The tedious rate at which it moves is all the more wearisome..from the absurd air of consequence that belongs to the whole machinery of the Messagerie.
1878 C. Schreiber Jrnl. 29 June (1952) 150 We took our passage in the French Messageries boat.
1934 A. Christie Murder on Orient Express ii. xiv. 169 He saw me on board a French Messagerie boat for Smyrna.
1974 S. Coulter Château ii. vi. 286 She had come down by the Messageries coach.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1777