from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
District \Dis"trict\, n. [LL. districtus district, fr. L.
districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See
{Distrain}.]
1. (Feudal Law) The territory within which the lord has the
power of coercing and punishing.
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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.
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To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such
district not exceeding ten miles square. --The
Constitution
of the United
States.
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3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a
country; a tract.
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These districts which between the tropics lie.
--Blackstone.
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{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.
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