parcel post
(At first called erroneously parcels post.)
[f. parcel n. 7 + post n.]
That branch of the postal service which undertakes the carriage and distribution of parcels.
| 1837 9th Rep. Comm. Managem. Post-Office 28 in Parl. Papers XXXIV. 431 Would it not occasion great delay if you made a parcel-post of it to that extent? 1843 Rep. Sel. Comm. Postage 41 in Parl. Papers VIII. 1 The Banghy post of the East Indies is a parcel post; the maximum of weight appears to be about 15 lb. [1859 Househ. Words XIX. 393 They urge that a small parcels-post ought to be forthwith organised.] 1883 P.O. Guide 1 Oct. 3 Inland Parcels Post... In order that a packet may go by Parcels Post, it must be tendered for transmission as a parcel, and should bear the words ‘Parcels Post’ [so up to 1 July 1884; 1 Oct. 1884 ‘Parcel Post’]. 1884 Whitaker's Almanack 278 Remarkable Occurr. 1883 August 1, New Parcel Post first in operation. 1902 Daily Chron. 4 Aug. 5/1 The parcel post was recommended by Rowland Hill just sixty years ago. It was proposed to Parliament with success by Mr. Fawcett twenty years ago, and came into force in 1883. |