Definition of inbox

The word "inbox" originally referred to a physical box used to receive mail. It comes from the prefix "in-" meaning "into" and the word "box," which was already in use by the 14th century. The term was later adopted for digital mail systems, with the first known instance of its use in the context of email being in 1979. The concept of an "inbox" as a place to collect messages, however, is much older. Ancient civilizations used pigeonholes and other similar systems for organizing incoming communications, foreshadowing the digital inbox of today.