parcelling

1. (nautical) One of the long, narrow slips of canvas daubed with tar and wound about a rope like a bandage, before it is served; used also in mousing on the stays, etc.Examples: "The wind continuing very light; all hands were sent aloft to strip off the chafing gear; and battens, parcellings, roundings, hoops, mats, and leathers, came flying from aloft, and left the rigging neat and clean, stripped of all its sea bandaging."; "This effectively prepares the way for the parcelling to produce a smooth finish, prior to serving."

2. (more specifically) The division of land into parcels.Examples: "The parcelling of large estates into smaller agricultural units swelled the area of peasants' land by 1,759,000 acres."; "Another category of norms is valid for parcellings taking place after 2 December 1966 , but preceding the date ( 1 September 1967) when the Lege Ponte entered into force; while a third category of norms applies to parcellings carried out after 1 September 1967."; "Near the coast, tidal creeks and high marshland formed a landscape with irregular parcellings."