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

It is no matter where you stay," he said; "I shall write to you at the poste restante.

From The Holladay Case A Tale by Stevenson, Burton Egbert

I shall be at Munich on Friday, and have written to Hallam Tennyson, poste restante; but I hope to waylay them at the station.

From Letters of Lord Acton To Mary, Daughter of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone by Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron

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 Froest, Frank

"Write, then, poste restante to M. Andre, you must name the time at which you wish to see me, and I will be there."

From The Regent's Daughter by Dumas père, Alexandre