post dayn.
/ˈpəʊs(t) deɪ/, U.S. /ˈpoʊs(t) ˌdeɪ/ Now historical.
The day on which the post is scheduled to be delivered or collected.
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society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > time of post
post day1645
post time1650
post night1657
post hour1666
post-morning1666
1645 Let. 1 May in Hull Lett. (1886) 68 Upon the post day I was long at the Committee of Examinations, and had your letter read.
1656 R. Boyle Let. 14 Apr. in Corr. (2001) I. 203 I had earlier acknowledged your late favours, if I had not been on the post day invited out of towne.
1679 Harwell in R. Jenison Popish Plot 27 I Have expected to hear from you these three or four post-days past.
1756 S. Johnson Let. 15 Apr. (1992) I. 134 Except there be a lucky concurrence of a post day with a holiday.
1819 J. Blundell Let. 22 Nov. in Lancs. Gentleman (1992) xii. 311 George wrote..requesting I wd lose no time in communicating the offer to Joseph, wh I accordingly did by a special Messenger to Peterboro (It not being our Post-day).
1864 A. Trollope Can you forgive Her? I. xxxii. 250 ‘But it isn't post-day,’ said Kate;—for the post illuminated Vavasor but three days a week.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 329 This particular morning happened to be that of the bi-weekly post-day.
a2005 S. Sadie Mozart: Early Years (2006) xviii. 453 Allowing for twice-weekly post days, this meant that it could take close to a month for an exchange of views or for a question to be answered.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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