mailbag

English

Alternative forms

• mail bag

Etymology

From mail +‎ bag.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/

Noun

mailbag (plural mailbags)

1. A strong canvas bag used for the transportation of mail.

   Synonym: mailsack

   • 1959 December, “New TPOs for the Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 581:

     The communicating doors of adjoining vehicles are opened simultaneously by pressing a large push-button located a suitable height for a man loaded with mailbags to contact it with his shoulder; after a time-lag of seven seconds the doors close automatically.

2. A smaller bag, slung from the shoulder, used by a mail carrier during the delivery of mail.

   Synonym: postbag (British)

   Hypernyms: bag, sack, poke

3. (by extension, figurative) The correspondence received by a publishing entity such as a magazine or website.

   Coordinate terms: mailbox, postbox, letter box; postbox, post office box

   In our mailbag this month, we've got no less than 12 letters from those of you who think that Jones should not have been benched.

Related terms

• mail carrier
• mailman
• mailwoman