courier

American  

[kur-ee-er, koor-] / ˈkɜr i ər, ˈkʊər- /

noun

1. a messenger, usually traveling in haste, bearing urgent news, important reports or packages, diplomatic messages, etc.

2. any means of carrying news, messages, etc., regularly.

3. the conveyance used by a courier, as an airplane or ship.

4. Chiefly British. a tour guide for a travel agency.

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courier British  

/ ˈkʊərɪə /

noun

1. a special messenger, esp one carrying diplomatic correspondence

2. a person who makes arrangements for or accompanies a group of travellers on a journey or tour

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verb

1. (tr) to send (a parcel, letter, etc) by courier

Etymology

Origin of courier

1350–1400; < Middle French cour ( r ) ier < Italian corriere, equivalent to corr ( ere ) to run (< Latin currere ) + -iere < Latin -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English corour < Anglo-French cor ( i ) our, Old French coreor < Late Latin curritor runner; current, -tor

Example Sentences

In October Polish and Romanian authorities said they thwarted a Russian plot to send incendiary packages through a Ukrainian courier service, including devices intended to ignite in Bucharest.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her Alawi identity rendered her especially useful as a revolutionary courier; police never imagined her capable of betraying the regime.

From Los Angeles Times

And Olka had managed to get herself a job as a courier at the Eagle Pharmacy, the sole Polish-owned business that was permitted to stay open within the ghetto walls.

From Literature

Information is arriving "in dribs and drabs from motorbike couriers circulating the region", making it difficult to establish an accurate toll, a humanitarian source told AFP.

From Barron's

“Well, we intercept German radio messages at listening posts. Motorcycle couriers bring stacks of messages here all day and night. But we can’t read them.”

From Literature