tappaltappauln.
/təˈpɔːl/ Anglo-Indian.
The transmission of letters, etc. by relays of runners; the organization by which this is carried on; the postal matter or conveyance, the mail; one who carries the post; an arrival or dispatch of letters.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > types of service > conveyance of mail by land or sea > on foot
foot post1578
tappal1791
1791 J. Anderson Corr. 64 A letter by the Tappal or Dawk.
1799 Duke of Wellington Suppl. Despatches (1858) I. 303 I have sent orders to the postmaster at Seringapatam to run a tappall from thence to Nuggur.
1809 Visct. Valentia Voy. I. vii. 385 I might go by tappaul the whole way to Seringapatam.
1889 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 199 Farewell to telegrams and tappals for a fortnight.
Derivatives
tappal-wallah n. [compare competition-wallah] a runner who carries the post in South India.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger > running or express messenger
couriera1382
scarceler14..
cursor1566
pattamar1598
cursitora1604
express1619
cossid1682
tappal-wallah1865
1865 Daily Tel. 12 Dec. 7/2 The tappal-wallah does not turn up with the letters at the proper time.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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n.1791