parish

n. [ OE. parishe, paresche, parosche, OF. paroisse, parosse, paroiche, F. paroisse, L. parochia, corrupted fr. paroecia, Gr. paroiki`a, fr. pa`roikos dwelling beside or near; para` beside + o'i^kos a house, dwelling; akin to L. vicus village. See Vicinity, and cf. Parochial. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Eccl. & Eng. Law) (a) That circuit of ground committed to the charge of one parson or vicar, or other minister having cure of souls therein. Cowell. (b) The same district, constituting a civil jurisdiction, with its own officers and regulations, as respects the poor, taxes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Populous and extensive parishes are now divided, under various parliamentary acts, into smaller ecclesiastical districts for spiritual purposes. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An ecclesiastical society, usually not bounded by territorial limits, but composed of those persons who choose to unite under the charge of a particular priest, clergyman, or minister; also, loosely, the territory in which the members of a congregation live. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In Louisiana, a civil division corresponding to a county in other States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A parishioner. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a parish; parochial. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]