[ noun ] the act of distributing by allotting or apportioning; distribution according to a plan <noun.act> the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives is based on the relative population of each state
Parcel \Par"cel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Parceled}or {Parcelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Parceling} or {Parcelling}.] 1. To divide and distribute by parts or portions; -- often with out or into. ``Their woes are parceled, mine are general.'' --Shak.
These ghostly kings would parcel out my power. --Dryden.
The broad woodland parceled into farms. --Tennyson.
2. To add a parcel or item to; to itemize. [R.]
That mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy. --Shak.
3. To make up into a parcel; as, to parcel a customer's purchases; the machine parcels yarn, wool, etc.
{To parcel a rope} (Naut.), to wind strips of tarred canvas tightly arround it. --Totten.
{To parcel a seam} (Naut.), to cover it with a strip of tarred canvas.
This helps people build up full-time work by parcelling together a number of part-time jobs.