taking post

Verb

take post (third-person singular simple present takes post, present participle taking post, simple past took post, past participle taken post)

1. (archaic, intransitive) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, post. To travel (typically rapidly) by posthorse or post chaise; to arrive and assume a military post.
   • […] I had my Health and Limbs […] and might, with Ease, travel a Day or two on foot, and having a good Certificate of being in perfect Health, might either hire a Horse, or take Post on the Road, as I thought fit.1722 March, H[enry] F[oe] [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], A Journal of the Plague Year: […], London: […] E[lizabeth] Nutt […]; J. Roberts […]; A. Dodd […]; and J. Graves […], →OCLC, page 14
2. (archaic, figuratively, intransitive) To travel as quickly as possible by whatever means.
   • I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault,
     And presently took post to tell it you:c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
3. (archaic, figuratively, intransitive) To begin to serve any position, particularly (UK military, historical) to be named a post-captain.
4. (archaic, figuratively, intransitive) To establish oneself in a defensive or offensive position.
   • The besieged sprung a Mine under the Assailants first line, which buried Captain Kalkreiter, and some Souldiers. But seeing they could not take post for want of Earth […] it was thought expedient to make a retreat...1687, Roger Manley, The Turkish History […] by Richard Knolles with a Continuation to This Present Year MDCLXXXVII, London: Tho. Basset, page 323