ям

rare #62392

nounmasculineinanimatecountable

1.
(rare) mail staging-post, postal station, coaching stationhistory
Гоне́ц дое́хал до ближа́йшего я́ма и смени́л лошаде́й.
The courier reached the nearest staging-post and changed horses.
Historical; the relay stations of the Russian state postal service from the Mongol period to the 18th century.
2.
(rare) postal village, coaching villagehistory
Крестья́не я́ма вози́ли казённую почту.
The peasants of the postal village carried the state mail.
Historical; a settlement whose peasants were bound to provide horses and drivers for the mail.

Examples

Ямщики жили при яме и ждали почту.
The drivers lived at the staging post and waited for the mail.
Старый ям превратился в небольшую деревню.
The old staging post turned into a small village.
Раньше на этой дороге стоял ям для смены лошадей.
There used to be a mail staging post on this road where horses could be changed.