\Dis"trict\, 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.