courier

[ kur-ee-er, koor- ]

noun

1. a messenger, usually traveling in haste, bearing urgent news, important reports or packages, diplomatic messages, etc.
2. any means of carrying news, messages, etc., regularly.
3. the conveyance used by a courier, as an airplane or ship.
4. Chiefly British. a tour guide for a travel agency.

courier

/ ˈkʊərɪə /

noun

1. a special messenger, esp one carrying diplomatic correspondence
2. a person who makes arrangements for or accompanies a group of travellers on a journey or tour

verb

1. tr to send (a parcel, letter, etc) by courier

Word History and Origins

Origin of courier¹

1350–1400; < Middle French cour ( r ) ier < Italian corriere, equivalent to corr ( ere ) to run (< Latin currere ) + -iere < Latin -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English corour < Anglo-French cor ( i ) our, Old French coreor < Late Latin curritor runner; current, -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of courier¹

C16: from Old French courrier, from Old Latin corriere, from correre to run, from Latin currere

Example Sentences

“Masters had connections with survivalists,” Grants Pass Daily Courier (PDF) reporter Edith Decker wrote in 2010.

From The Daily Beast

For this, the courier can expect one to three years of prison time for the felony of “promoting prison contraband.”

From The Daily Beast

Looch is the editor-publisher of an internationally respected lefty newspaper called the Russian Courier.

From The Daily Beast

On Sunday, April 21, a full-page ad in The Post and Courier ran under the headline, “A Personal Message from Mark Sanford.”

From The Daily Beast

The Yemen crew sent bombs by international courier service to Chicago, but the packages were intercepted.

From The Daily Beast

While the last of the troops were defiling before the duke and his staff, a courier brought up despatches.

From Project Gutenberg

The man's nature was inquisitive, and he was indulging idle conjectures as to what might be the news this courier brought.

From Project Gutenberg

I do wish you had been able to get steady work with the Courier, spoke Jess, as she prepared to go out.

From Project Gutenberg

"At La Rochette, madame," the courier answered,' and his answer brought Marius to his feet with an oath.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Marquise, who now held the package she had received from the courier, bade the page depart also.

From Project Gutenberg