Main Entry: par·ish

Pronunciation: \ˈper-ish, ˈpa-rish\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English parisshe, from Anglo-French paroche, parosse, from Late Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, from Greek, stranger, from para- + oikos house — more at vicinity

Date: 14th century

1 a (1) : the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor (2) : the residents of such an area b British : a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government
2 : a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church
3 : a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states