post-boatn.
/ˈpəʊs(t)bəʊt/, U.S. /ˈpoʊs(t)ˌboʊt/ Now historical.
A boat or ship engaged in conveying mail, esp. on a regular route at fixed times; a packet-boat, a mailboat; a boat which carries passengers between certain points.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel for transporting people or goods > [noun] > packet or mailboat
post-boat1582
post-bark1599
post1600
post packet1634
packet-boat1642
packeta1670
post office packet1780
packet-ship1782
packet-bark1806
packet steamer1842
sailing-packet1842
mailboat1895
multipacket1965
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > person or vehicle that carries letters or mail > [noun] > vehicle or vessel > vessel
post-boat1582
post packet1634
post office packet1780
mailboat1786
mail steamer1843
mailer1857
mail ship1891
1582 in Cal. State Papers Ireland 1574–85 (1867) xcv. 401 Note of 399l. 5s. owing to Rob Ratcliff, owner of the post-boat.
1600 Sir G. Fenton in Cal. Documents Ireland 340 I await [at Holyhead] for a southerly wind, and a bark to put me over, the post boat being already in Ireland.
1753 J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea I. xvi. 109 We found the place inhabited by some..tartars, who ply on the river with open post boats.
1814 J. B. Scott Diary 10 Oct. in E. Mann Englishman at Home & Abroad (1930) v. 132 Start at 5 o'clock in the Post-boat upon the Saone.
1879 E. K. Bates Egyptian Bonds II. vi. 162 Thence by the post-boat on the canal to Port Said.
1897 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 455 It is sunset when one arrives by the post-boat.
1966 Current Anthropol. 7 350/1 Clinics were few and usually could be reached only by post-boat or by undependable sail-powered falluka.
1997 A. S. Ali Country without Post Office II. 52 (note) The post boat was like a gondola that called at each houseboat. It carried a clerk, weighing scales, and a bell to announce arrivals.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1582