poste restante

American  

[pohst re-stahnt, res-tahnt, pawst res-tahnt] / ˌpoʊst rɛˈstɑnt, ˈrɛs tɑnt, pɔst rɛsˈtɑ̃t /

noun

1. a direction written on mail to indicate that it should be held at the post office until called for by the addressee.

2. Chiefly British. a department in charge of such mail.

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poste restante British  

/ ˈpəʊst rɪˈstænt, pɔst rɛstɑ̃t /

noun

1. (not in the US and Canada) an address on mail indicating that it should be kept at a specified post office until collected by the addressee

2. the mail-delivery service or post-office department that handles mail having this address

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Etymology

Origin of poste restante

1760–70; < French: literally, standing post

Example Sentences

Leisurely two-sided correspondences were difficult to sustain, with Chatwin roving from one poste restante to the next.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2011

She gave him several louis-d'or to supply his immediate wants, and told him to write a letter containing news of himself every week, addressed to the initial B., poste restante.

From A Twofold Life by Hillern, Wilhelmine von

Then he came back to the main point He has already had 2 letters from Dora, but not an answer to his letter, because she can't fetch it from the post office, poste restante.

From A Young Girl's Diary by Paul, Eden

He sent this letter to the poste restante at Windermere, as Lily had directed.

From Tongues of Conscience by Hichens, Robert Smythe

I was even careful to keep her visits a secret and, moreover, to refrain from corresponding with her except through the poste restante.

From The Teeth of the Tiger by Leblanc, Maurice