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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread letters crossing in the mail #183970 03/27/2009 4:35 PM Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 Pfhyde stranger Pfhyde stranger Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 I scoured OED-online for this word already, which my dad claims exists, but I think he's imagining things: a word that describes two letters, A and B, crossing each other midway, such that A was going to B and B to A. Let me know if this word exists, but if not, maybe sharing fancy words for postal events, like this one I got from the USPS glossary of terms, will make it all worthwhile: à découvert - (French) Universal Postal Union term for open transit mail (mail that crosses U.S. borders while en route from one foreign country to another) that is in unsealed containers. Also, "être à découvert" supposedly means to overdraft your bank account in French. The respondent below makes clear why à découvert applies to 'unsealed' containers. Thanks all! Last edited by Pfhyde; 03/27/2009 5:00 PM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail Pfhyde #183974 03/27/2009 4:51 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Literally à découvert means uncovered , unsheltered, not protected . Welcome. As for the crossing, no idea. Last edited by BranShea; 03/27/2009 4:56 PM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail BranShea #184017 03/31/2009 1:58 AM Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 Iscah stranger Iscah stranger Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 Wow. I thought my query was specific! Can't help, but it's a neat concept; it would be equally neat to have a word for it. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail Iscah #184020 03/31/2009 7:21 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague What would you suggest? I would simply call them crossnotes. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail Iscah #184021 03/31/2009 7:23 AM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada I wonder if the post office has a specific professional-jargon term. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail Zed #184026 03/31/2009 10:46 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Originally Posted By: Zed I wonder if the post office has a specific professional-jargon term. I wouldn't think that the post office would even notice that it had happened. Possibly in a small town post office someone might note that person X had received mail from person Y very shortly after person X had sent mail to person Y but even then I don't think it would be considered extraordinary enough to have a term for it. It happens in email all the time and I personally have never noted it with anything much more than a comment on ships passing in the night. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail BranShea #184027 03/31/2009 12:37 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh What would you suggest? Letters that cross in the mail. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail zmjezhd #184034 03/31/2009 5:02 PM Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,773 Apple Valley, CA, USA dalehileman Pooh-Bah dalehileman Pooh-Bah Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,773 Apple Valley, CA, USA Pfh: I agree that if there isn't one there ought to be. If you have the patience, however: http://onelook.com/?w=*&loc=revfp2&clue=letters+cross+mail dalehileman Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail zmjezhd #184036 03/31/2009 5:05 PM Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 389 Rhode Island, USA Owlbow enthusiast Owlbow enthusiast Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 389 Rhode Island, USA xpost ? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: letters crossing in the mail zmjezhd #184047 03/31/2009 9:18 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Originally Posted By: zmjezhd What would you suggest? Letters that cross in the mail. heh formerly known as etaoin... 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