letter corporal

plural letter corporals

1. archaicA corporal with responsibility for carrying or delivering letters for a given regiment etc.First known use 19th c.

   The letter-corporal’s blunder.

   1910, Mrs De Courcy Laffan, Dreams Made Verity, chapter heading

   3 more examples

   ‘It will soon go off; pray finish your writing. I met the letter Corporal not far off, he will be here almost immediately.

   1861, M Beverley, The Moor Cottage, page 362

   I had but just laid down my Bible, when in came the ‘letter corporal,’ saying, ‘Does B— stop here?’ having your letter in his hand.

   1867, Private JB, letter, The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, Fifth series, vol. XIII

   It was then dropped with much solemnity into the letter-box, so as to be ready for the letter-corporal at early post time.

   1884, Edward Dyne Fenton, Military Men I Have Met