n. & v.
n. 1 a goods etc. wrapped up in a single package. b a bundle of things wrapped up, usu. in paper. 2 a piece of land, esp. as part of an estate. 3 a quantity dealt with in one commercial transaction. 4 archaic part.
v.tr. (parcelled, parcelling; US parceled, parceling) 1 (foll. by up) wrap as a parcel. 2 (foll. by out) divide into portions. 3 cover (rope) with strips of canvas. parcel post the branch of the postal service dealing with parcels.
[ ME f. OF parcelle ult. f. L particula (as PART) ]