parish
parish (par"ish) , noun
[Old English parishe, paresche, parosche, Old French paroisse, parosse, paroiche, French paroisse, Latin parochia, corrupted from paroecia, Greek paroiki`a, from pa`roikos dwelling beside or near; para` beside + o'i^kos a house, dwelling; akin to Latin vicus village. See Vicinity, and compare Parochial.]
1.
(a) (Ecclesiastical & Eng. Law) That circuit of ground committed to the charge of one parson or vicar, or other minister having cure of souls therein.
(b)
(Ecclesiastical & Eng. Law) The same district, constituting a civil jurisdiction, with its own officers and regulations, as respects the poor, taxes, etc. — Cowell
Populous and extensive parishes are now divided, under various parliamentary acts, into smaller ecclesiastical districts for spiritual purposes.
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. [United States]
3.
In Louisiana, a civil division corresponding to a county in other States.
Parish , adjective
Of or pertaining to a parish; parochial; as, a parish church; parish records; a parish priest; maintained by the parish; as, parish poor. — Dryden
Collocations (2)
Parish clerk , (a) The clerk or recording officer of a parish (b) A layman who leads in the responses and otherwise assists in the service of the Church of England.
Parish court , in Louisiana, a court in each parish.