post horn

American  

noun

1. a straight or coiled copper or brass horn with no valves or slide, originally used to announce mail coaches.

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post horn British  

noun

1. a simple valveless natural horn consisting of a long tube of brass or copper, either straight or coiled; formerly often used to announce the arrival of a mailcoach

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Etymology

Origin of post horn

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

The second half comprises 30-odd short, Ruscha-dedicated vignettes, shuffling orchestral elegance and peremptory bangs, fast, jazzy basslines, blues-guitar boogies against what sounds like somebody blowing a post horn, gamelan-percussion swirlings and raw noise.

From The Guardian • Dec. 16, 2010

Most people might suppose that the march was dedicated to an army post, or the Post Office department, or perhaps had something to do with a post horn.

From Time Magazine Archive

As it consists of seven notes only, with a very marked measure, and a melody like a simple flourish on a trumpet or post horn, nobody capable of catching a tune can easily miss it.

From The Perfect Wagnerite, Commentary on the Ring by Shaw, Bernard

The clang of a post horn sounded below on the country road, mixing itself strangely with the noisy dance music.

From Herman A Novel by Werner, E.

Tantwivy was the sound of the hunting horn   in full cry, or that of a post horn.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis