noun

1. a British church district with its own church and clergyman
2. a district of British local civil government, often identical with the original church parish
3. an administrative district of various churches, esp. a part of a diocese, under the charge of a priest or minister
4. 1. the members of the congregation of any church
   2. the territory in which they live
5. ☆ a civil division in Louisiana, corresponding to a county

Etymology: ME parissche < OFr parroche < LL(Ec) parochia, for paroecia < LGr(Ec) paroikia, a diocese < Gr, a sojourning (in a foreign land, or, by early Christians, on earth) < paroikos, a stranger < para- (see para-) + oikos, dwelling: see eco-