I. ˈpär-səl 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
II. adverb
Date: 15th century
archaic : partly
III. adjective
Date: 15th century
: part-time , partial
IV. transitive verb
( -celed or -celled ; -cel·ing or par·cel·ling ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 15th century
1. : to divide into parts : distribute — often used with out
2. : to make up into a parcel : wrap
3. : to cover (as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape