Postilion: meaning, definitions and examples
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postilion
[ pəˈstɪljən ]
historical, transportation
A postilion is a person who rides the left horse of a team drawing a coach or a carriage. Historically, they were responsible for directing the vehicle and were often used in the transportation of mail and passengers.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The postilion guided the horses through the winding roads.
- In the 19th century, a postilion was a common sight near coach stations.
- Travelers relied on the expertise of the postilion during long journeys.
Translations
Translations of the word "postilion" in other languages:
🇵🇹 postilão
🇮🇳 घोड़ा गाड़ी चलाने वाला
🇩🇪 Postillion
🇮🇩 pengemudi kereta kuda
🇺🇦 поштовий візник
🇵🇱 powóz
🇯🇵 郵便馬車の運転手
🇫🇷 postillon
🇪🇸 postillón
🇹🇷 posta arabası sürücüsü
🇰🇷 우편마차 기수
🇸🇦 سائق عربة البريد
🇨🇿 pošťák na koni
🇸🇰 poštár na koni
🇨🇳 邮政马车的驾驶员
🇸🇮 poštni voznik
🇮🇸 póstur á hestum
🇰🇿 пошта арбасының жүргізушісі
🇬🇪 პოსტის მძღოლი
🇦🇿 poçt arabası sürücüsü
🇲🇽 postillón
Etymology
The term 'postilion' comes from the French word 'postillon', which is derived from the Italian 'postiglione.' This root relates to 'post' or postal, linking the role to the transportation of mail. Historically, postilions were essential for the operation of stagecoaches and other horse-drawn vehicles, especially during the 17th to 19th centuries. As mail delivery systems and public transportation evolved, the role of the postilion diminished. By the late 19th century, with the advent of motor vehicles, the traditional position began to fade from common use, although in historical contexts, the postilion remains a symbol of early transportation methods.