estafette

[ es-tuh-fet ]

noun

1. a mounted courier.

Word History and Origins

Origin of estafette¹

1785–95; < French < Italian staffetta, diminutive of staffa stirrup < Germanic ( stapes ); -ette

Example Sentences

Hence she addressed this extraordinary letter to the Estafette:— “St. Jean de Luz, Hôtel du Cygne, “2nd September, 1856.

From Project Gutenberg

Valued reader, is it amongst the number of your experiences to have "assisted" at a dinner—usually a Russian one—where, without having found anything pre-eminently good to eat, you are given to understand that all cost fabulous sums—that the fricassee you scarcely tasted was brought from the frontier of China, and the fish, that seemed flavourless, came by estafette from the Caspian?

From Project Gutenberg

All I know is, her house is the best thing at Paris; she has secured old Cambaceres' chef de cuisine; has bought up the groom of the chambers of the ex-Emperor; keeps an estafette going on the Strasbourg road for p�t�s de foie gras; and is on such terms with the sovereigns that she has their private bands to play at all her parties.

From Project Gutenberg

And the estafette whom Julia had sent to recall him having arrived half an hour too late at each place, Uncle Nanasy returned to S—— without having seen him, and entered his niece's apartment with a huge bandbox under his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

The same estafette which brought the news of King August’s death, also brought intelligence, gleaned by chance, that in the middle of the night, four days before, every granary, stable and outbuilding of the Manoir Cheverny was burned to the ground; and on St. Valentine’s day of 1733 Gaston 240 Cheverny got letters saying that the Manoir Cheverny itself was but a heap of ashes.

From Project Gutenberg