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

See Examples For:

poste restante

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

Do not answer this to London, but to the poste restante, Frankfurt.

From Among the Great Masters of Music Scenes in the Lives of Famous Musicians by Walter Rowlands

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 Maurice Leblanc

I had told Grell that if it became necessary to write me under cover, he might do so at the poste restante, Folkestone.

From The Grell Mystery by Frank Froest

Very obligingly, she offered to fetch my letters from the poste restante, and look out for photographs.

From The Roof of France by Matilda Betham-Edwards