Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

postilion

noun

pəˈstɪl.jən

Definition

A person who rides the leading left-hand horse of a team pulling a coach or carriage, especially one who is responsible for driving the horses.

Examples

The postilion guided the coach through the winding countryside roads.
In the olden days, a postilion was essential for delivering letters and passengers on long journeys.
We saw a postilion elegantly dressed as he rode beside the horse-drawn carriage.

Meaning

The term ‘postilion’ refers specifically to an individual who drives a horse-drawn carriage from the horses’ back, rather than from within the carriage itself.