Postal
/ˈpoʊ.stəl/noun
Relating to mail or the postal system.
Did you know?Postal ultimately traces back to the Latin root for a fixed station or stopping place, because early message networks depended on relay points where couriers could swap horses and keep secrets moving.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sta-
“to stand, make or be firm”
Latin
Latin
stare
“to stand”
Late Latin
Latin
posta
“a station or relay stop for couriers”
Old French
Old French
poste
“a post, station, or relay point”
Middle English
English
post
“a courier route or relay station”
17th Century
English
postal
“relating to the post or mail”