Category:District

Dis"trict, a. Etym: [L. districtus, p. p.]

Defn: Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [Obs.] Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.

district Dis"trict, n. Etym: [LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain.]

1. (Feudal Law)

Defn: The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.

2. A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc. To exercise exclusive legislation. . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. The Constitution of the United States.

3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country; a tract. These districts which between the tropics lie. Blackstone. Congressional district. See under Congressional. -- District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or district court. -- District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United States tribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial district. -- District judge, one who presides over a district court. -- District school, a public school for the children within a school district. [U.S.]

Syn. -- Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country.

district Dis"trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n. Districting.]

Defn: To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.