pony express

noun

often capitalized P&E

: a rapid postal and express system that operated across the western U.S. in 1860–61 by relays of horses and riders

Examples of pony express in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

William Showell, a pony express rider, is on the list, and so is Olive Osmond, mother of the famed performing group, who started the boys singing to raise money for hearing aids for her oldest two children. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Feb. 2022

During its long history, the Postal Service has delivered the mail by pony express, mule train, float planes, ferry boats, motorcycles, skis, hovercrafts, and pneumatic tubes. —Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 2 May 2020

Prodded by anxious refugees, as well as by local residents who had relatives and friends in other parts of the world, CBers tried to set up a relay system on the lines of an electronic pony express. —Nan Randall, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pony express

noun

often capitalized P&E

: a rapid postal system across the western U.S. in 1860–61 that operated by changing horses and riders along the way