call box

American  

noun

1. an outdoor telephone or signal box for calling the police or fire department.

2. British. a public telephone booth.

3. a post-office box for mail that can be picked up only by a renter in person.

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call box British  

noun

1. Also called: telephone box.   telephone kiosk.  a soundproof enclosure for a public telephone

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Etymology

Origin of call box

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

At 2:11 a.m., the man who had used the call box to gain entry to the building was seen leaving with what appeared to be Hinton’s laundry bag.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2022

BT was consulting with Aberdeenshire Council on the future of the call box, as well as those located in Crovie and Portsoy.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2021

I was a fan of Duchamp but wasn’t familiar with that particular piece, so I remember standing in a call box while Richard described it to me over the phone.

From The Guardian • Dec. 7, 2018

Then, at around noon, a call box was pulled outside an auto supply and appliance store at 10th and H streets NE.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2018

Nothing in there but a stainless-steel sink and toilet and a call box so you can communicate with the staff.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater