Parcel
/ˈpɑːr.səl/noun
A small package or a portion of something.
Did you know?Parcel comes through Old French from Latin *particella*, a diminutive of *pars* (“part”), so its history is literally about making a thing smaller by dividing it.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to divide, share, or allot”
Latin
Latin
pars
“a part, share, or portion”
Late Latin
Latin
particella
“a small part, little portion”
Old French
Old French
parcelle
“a small piece or portion of land or goods”
Middle English
English
parcel
“a small part, portion, or package”
Modern English
English
parcel
“a package or a divided portion of something”