LETTER (communication)
ADJECTIVES
1475 — REMISSIVE of a letter: sent in reply → obs.
NOUNS
1330 — TITLE a document; a writing, a letter → obs.
1698 — CHITTY a letter or note, a written message → Anglo-Indian
1731 — TOPSCRIPT something written at the top of a letter
1749 — BAFFEL a carelessly written letter, a scribble → Sc.
1781 — LETTERLING a short letter, a note
1804 — HOOKS AND CROOKS letters; writing → Amer. sl.
1817 — LETTERET a short letter
1824 — SCREED a dissertation; a long harangue; a document, a letter; a poetical effusion; a long list or catalogue; a lie, a fabrication → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1826 — FAKEMENT any letter; a note → sl.
1836 — LETTERLET a short letter, a note
1840 — READER a newspaper, letter, etc. → sl.
1844 — A SCRAPE OF THE PEN a few lines, a letter, writing → Eng. dial.
1847 — BILLET a note, letter, or document → Amer. dial.
1861 — HURRYGRAPH a hastily written letter → Amer. sl.
1870 — SCRIBE a mark made with the pen; a scrap of writing; a letter
1871 — BACKING the address or return address on an envelope or letter; the act of writing an address → Sc. & Amer. dial.
1881 — A SCRAT OF A PEN a scrap of writing; a letter → Eng. dial.
1888 — A WAG O THE PEN the least scrap of writing; a brief letter → Sc.
1890 — MASH NOTE a love-letter → sl.
1890 — NIXIE an incorrectly addressed letter → US railway mail clerks’ usage
1892 — CHIT a letter, a note, a certificate, or pass → Anglo-Indian sl. (Bk.)
1894 — SCRIVE a piece of writing; a letter; a statement or story written; handwriting; a short sermon → Sc.
..L19 — PAPER YABBER a letter → Aust. sl.
..20C — L.Y.K.A.H. Leave Your Knickers At Home; written by men on the back of letters to their loved one → Irish sl.
1900 — FARAWAY SCREED foreign news, a letter from abroad → Sc. (Bk.)
1900 — SCRIBE OF THE PEN a mark made with the pen; a scrap of writing; a letter → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1901 — BREAD-AND-BUTTER LETTER a letter of thanks for hospitality written after a visit
1911 — BILL a letter, a missive → Sc. (Bk.)
1912 — STINKER a strongly worded letter → sl.
1929 — POISON-PEN LETTER a malicious anonymous letter; an obscene crank letter → Amer. sl.
1930 — TAG a letter smuggled out of prison → US prison sl.
1940 — DEAR JOHN a letter concluding a relationship, usually sent by the woman and received by the man, often in prison or serving in the forces → sl.
1943 — HEARING a letter; a reply → Amer. dial.
1944 — BEHAVIOR REPORT a letter to the girlfriend → services’ sl. (Bk.)
1945 — SUGAR REPORT a letter from one’s sweetheart → World War II US armed forces usage
1950 — DEAD a letter or package that can neither be delivered nor returned → US Post Office usage
1966 — NASTYGRAM an unpleasant note or letter or a communication that brings bad news → US sl., chiefly military
1975 — BLIND a letter bearing an illegible or incomplete address → US
post office usage
1980 — DEAR JANE a letter concluding a relationship → sl.
1990 — BLUEY an airmail letter-form available free of charge to service personnel stationed abroad and to their correspondents at home → Brit. services’ sl.
NOUNS, PERSON
1529 — LATOR the bearer of a letter → Sc. obs.
1656 — TABELLARY a carrier of letters; an auditor, a scrivener → obs.
1699 — LETTER-MONGER a forger of letters → obs.
1743 — EPISTOLIST a writer of epistles or letters; a correspondent → obs.
1784 — PACKETEER a carrier of letters and documents → Can.
1893 — PACKETER a carrier of letters and documents → Can. hist.
PHRASES
1680 — WISH ONE A HAPPY MINUTE a complimentary phrase at the end of a letter → Eng. dial. obs.
1960 — BURMA written on an envelope, or at the foot of a lover’s letter as lover’s code for ‘Be Undressed (or Upstairs) and Ready My Angel) → UK
sl.
VERBS
1655 — BELETTER to serve with letters, to write to → obs.
1688 — DEDICATE to address a letter or other communication to → obs.
1769 — DROP to write a letter → sl.
1812 — FAKE A SCREEVE to write any letter or other paper → thieves’ sl.
1824 — LETTERIZE to write letters or epistles
1846 — FLY to send a letter hastily → colloq.
1859 — BACK to address an envelope or letter → Sc. & Amer. Amer. dial.
Lexicophilia 