postilion Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun someone who rides the near horse of a pair in order to guide the horses pulling a carriage (especially a carriage without a coachman)
    postillion.

WordNet

Pos*til"ion noun
Etymology
F. postillon, It. postiglione, fr. posta post. See Post a postman.
Definitions
  1. One who rides and guides the first pair of horses of a coach or post chaise; also, one who rides one of the horses when one pair only is used. Written also postillion.

Webster 1913