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

“Letterbox” contact between adopted children and birth families is outdated, the report says, instead recommending face-to-face contact where that is safe.

From BBC

Many adoptive parents agree the current "letterbox" system of contact is not effective.

From BBC

Whilst living with his grandmother, Keoghan said he could remember his mother "screaming through the letterbox... just wanting money".

From BBC

Later, the 18-year-old, from Leatherhead, Surrey, and Callum Dunne, 15, from Southend, Essex, stuffed a lit firework through the letterbox of 88-year-old Josephine Smith's home, starting a fire that killed her.

From BBC

Police said after the attack, Mrs Taylor tried to call for help through the letterbox and managed to crawl up the stairs and shouted for help, eventually catching the attention of a dog walker who called the emergency services.

From BBC