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.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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