post horse

American  

noun

1. a horse kept, as at a station on a post road, for the use of persons riding post or for hire by travelers.

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post horse British  

noun

1. (formerly) a horse kept at an inn or post house for use by postriders or for hire to travellers

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Etymology

Origin of post horse

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

At the moment he entered the vestibule, another man was entering likewise, dusty, out of breath, leaving at the gate a post horse, which, on reaching the palace, tumbled on his foreknees.

From The Three Musketeers by Dumas père, Alexandre

D'Artagnan and Planchet took each a post horse, and a postillion rode before them.

From The Three Musketeers by Dumas père, Alexandre

Edwards's observation, that a worn-out horse is not proper for Atlas to mount in battle, is impertinent; the horse here mentioned seems to be a post horse, rather than a war horse.

From Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies by Sherbo, Arthur