Main Entry: ¹par·cel

Pronunciation: \ˈpär-səl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French parcele, from Vulgar Latin *particella, from Latin particula small part — more at particle

Date: 14th century

1 a : fragment, portion b : a volume of a fluid (as air) considered as a single entity within a greater volume of the same fluid
2 : a tract or plot of land
3 : a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot <the whole story was a parcel of lies>
4 a : a wrapped bundle : package b : a unit of salable merchandise