letterbox

[ let-er-boks ]

noun

1. Also letter box. Chiefly British. a public or private mailbox.
2. Digital Technology, Television. a technique for displaying a wide-screen film or landscape video on a narrower screen by reducing its size but retaining the aspect ratio, with black bands filling the screen above and below the picture (often used attributively): Compare pan and scan, pillarbox ( def 1 ).

   letterbox videos.

verb (used with object)

1. Digital Technology, Television. to display (a film or video) by using the letterbox technique.

Word History and Origins

Origin of letterbox¹

First recorded in 1765–75; letter ¹( def ) + box ¹( def )

Example Sentences

The lid flew back, and we pressed forward, and each ran his hand down into the letterbox.

From Project Gutenberg

Among them I expected to see a letterbox; but there was nothing that looked like despatches.

From Project Gutenberg

The front door should have a knocker and a letterbox, and around both the door and the windows should be imitation framework.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt in the letterbox, drew forth a letter, and with this he went back to the sitting-room.

From Project Gutenberg

There must be a rural delivery, and if so, at the gate would be a letterbox.

From Project Gutenberg