call box

noun

1. an outdoor telephone or signal box for calling the police or fire department.
2. British. a public telephone booth.
3. a post-office box for mail that can be picked up only by a renter in person.

call box

noun

1. a soundproof enclosure for a public telephone Also calledtelephone boxtelephone kiosk

Word History and Origins

Origin of call box¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

County to install freeway emergency call boxes, led the development of the county’s paramedic program and helped bring the Dodgers to L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

In the late 19th century, they began to use call boxes, booths where they could send telegraphs or dial a station house.

From Seattle Times

At 2:11 a.m., the man who had used the call box to gain entry to the building was seen leaving with what appeared to be Hinton’s laundry bag.

From Seattle Times

The university will install blue-light emergency call boxes on campus, as well as up to a thousand security cameras, Prevo announced.

From Washington Post

The regulator is proposing rules to prevent 5,000 call boxes in areas with poor mobile coverage from being closed down.

From Seattle Times