District

Dis′trict (dĭs′trĭkt), a. [L. districtus, p. p.] Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [Obs.]

Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.

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.

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.

Dis′trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n. Districting.] To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.