post timen.1
/ˈpəʊs(t) ˌtʌɪm/, U.S. /ˈpoʊs(t) ˌtaɪm/ Now rare.
The time at which mail is delivered or collected.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > particular time > [noun] > the time or time of day > at which the mail leaves or arrives
post time1650
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > time of post
post day1645
post time1650
post night1657
post hour1666
post-morning1666
1650 Briefe Relat. Some Affaires & Transact. No. 50. 756 By my next you shall have more, it is Post time, and I cannot enlarge.
1772 J. Wedgwood Let. 1 Sept. in Sel. Lett. (1965) 133 I have been so long in these and other particulars this morning that post time is at hand.
1829 H. Roscoe Digest Law relating Bills of Exchange 208 He must send off his letter conveying the notice within post time of that day.
1845 T. B. Macaulay in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. 164 I was detained till after post-time.
1851 C. Brontë Let. in E. C. Gaskell Life C. Brontë II. ix. 216 Your letter would have been answered yesterday, but I was already gone out before post time.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers v. 112 Paul always enjoyed it when the work got faster, towards post time, and all the men united in labour.
1938 D. Thomas Let. July (1987) 311 It's nearly post-time and I've done almost nothing except get noisy about very little matters.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
post timen.2
/ˈpəʊs(t) tʌɪm/, U.S. /ˈpoʊs(t) ˌtaɪm/ North American.
The starting time for a horse race.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > starting time
post time1891
1891 Boston Daily Globe 6 May 2/2 Lord of the Harem opened at 10 to 1, but a knowing few placed their money in such a way as to force his price to 6 to 1 at post time.
1939 W. Saroyan Peace, it's Wonderful 89 One day, just before post time on the last race, the little fellow..said quietly, I really have got a girl. Do you want to see her picture?
1941 Sun (Baltimore) 30 Aug. 13/1 Everything is in readiness for the opening of business about an hour before post time tomorrow.
1988 J. McInerney Story of my Life ix. 145 Shh, quiet everybody, Tom goes. We're coming up on post time. This old boy takes his derby seriously.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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