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.

---

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

---

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

Send your answer to the initials K. Z., at Gottenburg, Sweden, poste restante.

From The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Edouard Riou

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 Wilhelmine von Hillern

I used to have my letters addressed there, poste restante, and call in for them when I happened to be in Kimberley.

From Uncanny Tales by Various

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