Definition: parcel

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

parcel
     n 1: a wrapped container [syn: package]
     2: the result of parcelling out or sharing; "death gets more
        than its share of attention from theologicans" [syn: portion,
         share]
     3: an extended area of land [syn: tract, piece of land, piece
        of ground, parcel of land]
     4: a collection of things wrapped or boxed together [syn: package,
         bundle, packet]
     v 1: divide into parts; "The developers parceled the land"
     2: cover with canvas, as of rope
     3: make into a parcel

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Parcel \Par"cel\, n. [F. parcelle a small part, fr. (assumed)
   LL. particella, dim. of L. pars. See Part, n., and cf.
   Particle.]
   1. A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a
      whole; a part. [Archaic] ``A parcel of her woe.''
      --Chaucer.

            Two parcels of the white of an egg.   --Arbuthnot.

            The parcels of the nation adopted different forms of
            self-government.                      --J. A.
                                                  Symonds.

   2. (Law) A part; a portion; a piece; as, a certain piece of
      land is part and parcel of another piece.

   3. An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or
      quantity; a collection; a group.

            This youthful parcel Of noble bachelors stand at my
            disposing.                            --Shak.

   4. A number or quantity of things put up together; a bundle;
      a package; a packet.

            'Tis like a parcel sent you by the stage. --Cowper.

   Bill of parcels. See under 6th Bill.

   Parcel office, an office where parcels are received for
      keeping or forwarding and delivery.

   Parcel post, that department of the post office concerned
      with the collection and transmission of parcels.

   Part and parcel. See under Part.
Parcel \Par"cel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parceledor Parcelled;
   p. pr. & vb. n. Parceling or Parcelling.]
   1. To divide and distribute by parts or portions; -- often
      with out or into. ``Their woes are parceled, mine are
      general.'' --Shak.

            These ghostly kings would parcel out my power.
                                                  --Dryden.

            The broad woodland parceled into farms. --Tennyson.

   2. To add a parcel or item to; to itemize. [R.]

            That mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my
            disgraces by Addition of his envy.    --Shak.

   3. To make up into a parcel; as, to parcel a customer's
      purchases; the machine parcels yarn, wool, etc.

   To parcel a rope (Naut.), to wind strips of tarred canvas
      tightly arround it. --Totten.

   To parcel a seam (Naut.), to cover it with a strip of
      tarred canvas.
Parcel \Par"cel\, a. & adv.
   Part or half; in part; partially. --Shak. [Sometimes hyphened
   with the word following.]

         The worthy dame was parcel-blind.        --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

         One that . . . was parcel-bearded [partially bearded].
                                                  --Tennyson.

   Parcel poet, a half poet; a poor poet. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.