call box

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.

call box

noun

1. a soundproof enclosure for a public telephone Also calledtelephone boxtelephone kiosk

Word History and Origins

Origin of call box¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

For a new officer or an officer assigned to a new beat, knowing all the call boxes in his Carney Block was a priority.

From Washington Post

Gordon hesitated, then swung glumly toward a corner where he could find a police call box.

From Project Gutenberg

Fig. 254 shows another form of call box, the handle being moved around to the call desired.

From Project Gutenberg

There were no windows, and it appeared to be a kind of sound-proof call-box, which indeed it was.

From Project Gutenberg