night letter

noun

1. former name of overnight telegram. : NL

night letter

noun

1. (formerly, in the US and Canada) a telegram sent for delivery the next day at a cheaper rate than a regular telegram

Word History and Origins

Origin of night letter¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

In a Sunday night letter to the committee chair, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the Trump ally accused the panel of “an outrageous abuse” of its authority.

From The Guardian

“I know there have been night letters that have been posted on doors marking people for interrogation or assassination,” said Representative Abigail Spanberger, Democrat of Virginia.

From New York Times

His family had begun receiving "night letters" - handwritten threats from the militants meant to discourage cooperation with US forces.

From BBC

In a Tuesday night letter to Pelosi, he claimed that had been more mistreated in this metaphorical “witch hunt” than the women who were tortured and hanged in 17th-century Massachusetts during an actual witch hunt.

From Washington Post

In a Wednesday night letter, prosecutors asked U.S.

From Reuters