pillarbox

[ pil-er-boks ]

/ ˈpɪl ərˌbɒks /

Digital Technology, Television.

noun

a technique for displaying a video recorded in portrait orientation on a wider screen by reducing its size but retaining the aspect ratio, with black bands filling the screen to the right and left of the picture (often used attributively):pillarbox format. Compare letterbox(def 2).

verb (used with object)

to display (a film or video) by using the pillarbox technique.

Origin of pillarbox

2000–05; pillar + box¹, perhaps referencing the two black bands (or pillars) used to box in the video content

Words nearby pillarbox

pillage, pillar, pillar box, pillar to post, pillar-and-breast, pillarbox, pillaret, pillars of fauces, pillars of fornix, pillars of hercules, pillars of islam

Example sentences from the Web for pillarbox

With a beating heart she went out to post the letter herself, and as it dropped into the pillarbox, she prayed softly to "God."

Married |August Strindberg