Dis"trict (?), a. [L. districtus, p. p.]

Rigorous; stringent; harsh.

[Obs.]

Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.

 

© Webster 1913.


Dis"trict, n. [LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain.]

1. FeudalLaw

The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.

2.

A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc.

To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. The Constitution of the United States.

3.

Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country; a tract.

These districts which between the tropics lie. Blackstone.

Congressional district. See under Congressional. -- District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or district court. -- District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United States tribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial district. -- District judge, one who presides over a district court. -- District school, a public school for the children within a school district. [U.S.]

Syn. -- Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country.

 

© Webster 1913.


Dis"trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n. Districting.]

To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.

 

© Webster 1913.

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