To ride post

Post Post, n. [F. poste, LL. posta station, post (where horses were kept), properly, a fixed or set place, fem. fr. L. positus placed, p. p. of ponere. See {Position}, and cf. {Post} a pillar.] 1. The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station. Specifically: (a) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a stage or railway post. (b) A military station; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station. (c) The piece of ground to which a sentinel's walk is limited. [1913 Webster]

2. A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman. [1913 Webster]

In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other. --Abp. Abbot. [1913 Webster]

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported. [1913 Webster]

I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should not care to hazard by the common post. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier. [Obs.] ``In post he came.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for several years. --Palfrey. [1913 Webster]

6. A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger. [1913 Webster]

The post of honor is a private station. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

7. A size of printing and writing paper. See the Table under {Paper}. [1913 Webster]

{Post and pair}, an old game at cards, in which each player a hand of three cards. --B. Jonson.

{Post bag}, a mail bag.

{Post bill}, a bill of letters mailed by a postmaster.

{Post chaise}, or {Post coach}, a carriage usually with four wheels, for the conveyance of travelers who travel post.

{Post day}, a day on which the mall arrives or departs.

{Post hackney}, a hired post horse. --Sir H. Wotton.

{Post horn}, a horn, or trumpet, carried and blown by a carrier of the public mail, or by a coachman.

{Post horse}, a horse stationed, intended, or used for the post.

{Post hour}, hour for posting letters. --Dickens.

{Post office}. (a) An office under governmental superintendence, where letters, papers, and other mailable matter, are received and distributed; a place appointed for attending to all business connected with the mail. (b) The governmental system for forwarding mail matter.

{Postoffice order}. See {Money order}, under {Money}.

{Post road}, or {Post route}, a road or way over which the mail is carried.

{Post town}. (a) A town in which post horses are kept. (b) A town in which a post office is established by law.

{To ride post}, to ride, as a carrier of dispatches, from place to place; hence, to ride rapidly, with as little delay as possible.

{To travel post}, to travel, as a post does, by relays of horses, or by keeping one carriage to which fresh horses are attached at each stopping place. [1913 Webster]