Precinct Definition

prēsĭngkt
precincts
noun
The police station situated in and having jurisdiction over such a district.
American Heritage
The grounds immediately surrounding a religious house or church.
Webster's New World
An enclosure between buildings, walls, etc.
Webster's New World
A division of a city, as for police administration.
Webster's New World
An election district of a city or town.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Precinct

Noun

Singular:
precinct
Plural:
precincts

Origin of Precinct

  • Middle English early 15th century, in sense of “district for government purposes", from Medieval Latin precinctum, alternative form of praecinctum (“enclosure, boundary line"), neuter singular of praecinctus, perfect passive participle of Latin praecingō (“surround, gird"), from prae (“before") + cingō (“surround, encircle"), from which also cinch.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English precincte a defined district or area from Medieval Latin praecīnctum from Latin neuter past participle of praecingere to encircle prae- pre- cingere to gird kenk- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Cognate to Italian precingere (“to encircle").

    From Wiktionary

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