Par"ish (?), n. [OE. parishe, paresche, parosche, OF. paroisse, parosse, paroiche, F. paroisse, L. parochia, corrupted fr. paroecia, Gr. , fr. dwelling beside or near; beside + a house, dwelling; akin to L. vicus village. See Vicinity, and cf. Parochial.]

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.

⇒ Populous and extensive parishes are now divided, under various parliamentary acts, into smaller ecclesiastical districts for spiritual purposes.

Mozley & W.

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.]

3.

In Louisiana, a civil division corresponding to a county in other States.

 

© Webster 1913.


Par"ish, a.

Of or pertaining to a parish; parochial; as, a parish church; parish records; a parish priest; maintained by the parish; as, parish poor.

Dryden.

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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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