civil parish

== English == === Etymology === The word parish for a local area of church and/or government authority predates rigorous modern distinctions between ecclesiastical and civil affairs. The term civil parish uses intentional pleonasm, in a way that natural language sometimes does, to easily and efficiently ensure clarity through disambiguation. By the same underlying principle, the term ecclesiastical parish is retronymic. === Noun === civil parish (plural civil parishes) In any of various countries, an administrative subdivision of an area, often of a county. Synonym: parish (elliptically synonymous) Coordinate terms: district, municipality, township, prefecture; county (often holonymous) A civil subdivision of a British county, often corresponding to an earlier ecclesiastical parish; a similar subdivision in Ireland. Synonym: parish (elliptically synonymous) ==== Usage notes ==== Civil parishes in Wales were replaced by communities, and those in Scotland by community council areas. ==== Synonyms ==== CP (abbreviation used on large-scale OS maps)