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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Paroch(e, Parr-, Perroch(e, Parosch(e, n. Also: paroach, -oich, -ock; parosh(e, -oish, -oece; parasche, -ash(e; proche. [ME. paroch(e (13–14th c.), parosshe (c 1325), parosse (Ayenbite), e.m.E. paroche (1533), paroece (1564), AF. paroche, OF. parroche, appar. a learned doublet (after L. parochia) of AF. parosse, -oisse, OF. paroisse also -osch(e, perrosche, pop. L. *parocia, late L. parochia. Cf. also Parisch(e, Parioch(e, Parochin, Parochy.] A parish, in various senses and applications.Rare till c 1550 except in combination, the common earlier word being Parochin.

1. Attrib. and comb. with -kirk (s.v. Paroch(e)-kirk n.), also -preste, -clerk, etc.(1) 1424 Acts II. 4/2.
The paroche preist 1437 Cop. St. A. 150.(2) 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV. 181.
To the paroche clerk of Edinburgh at brocht the crate with the sence 1513 Crail Ch. Reg. 40.
Parroche clerk 1529 Ecclesia Antiqua 282.
That the sacrament lamp be dailie lychtit be the paroch clerk or his servitouris 1540 Linlithgow B. Ct. 20 Oct.
Perrochclerk 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 107.
Officer and perroche clerk off Glenylay 1556–7 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 12/1.(3) 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 2 13/2.
The office of parochclerkschip 1545 Ib. III. 210/2. 1561 Ib. MS. XXX. 55 b.
Parrocheclerkschip(4) 1519 Maxwell Mem. I. 240.
Perroch altar 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 55.
The altarage of Oure Lady situat in the kirk of Halierudhous callit the perroche altar — 1570–1 Ib. 315.
Situat within the perroche ile of the abbey kirk of Halierudhous — 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 68 b.
My body to be grauit in my parroche kirk ȝarde

2. A parish. = Parochin n. 1.Also, the landward part of a burgh parish.Also, once (in Leg. S.), plur. without inflection.For some further examples, see Landward a., Lawrichtman n., Minister n., etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 371.
The bischope … gangand fra tone to tone Partand the landis in paroch sere c1420 Wynt. v. 2888 (C) (see Parochy n.).
Paroche 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 43. 1576 Compl. Zetl. 2.
Ane discreet man of ilk paroche … callit the lawricht man a1578 Pitsc. II. 142/23.
And thir captouris passit in evirie parroch be the bischoppis myanis 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 78.
That all men within this perroche cum and ressaue thair tokynes 1600-1610 Melvill 8.
I conveinit thairfor the haill eldars of the paroche to brouche and land 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX. 83.
[On caution to keep] his awne parroche 1614 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 12.
Because of the far scattering of the paroch fra the kirk 1617 Salmon Borrowstounness 58.
The constablis in the particular parrocheis foirsaidis 1624 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 27 Oct.
Keipar off the paroche 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 47. 1639 Baillie I. 201.
The highest paroches about Lanrick to follow my Lord Fleming for their crouner 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 9.
Ane or mae, chosen in ilk paroche … within thair boundes to uplift the sogers 1640–1 Ib. 43.
The captaine of that paroche 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. 6.
All the burgessis and inhabitantes, heritouris of landis, be taxt with the toune for thair tradeing, distinct from the paroche 1654 Ib. 22. 1673 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 80.
For disjoyning the said fyve paroches … from the said shyre 1684 Strathendrick 12.
A complaint was given in by severall in the paroch upon those in the clachan in … watering ther clothes in the churchyaird 1690 Acts IX. 197/1. 1698 Stitchill Baron Ct. 139.
Paroich 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 205.
Parock(b) 1610 Dysart Rec. 55.
The puir of the said proche(c) 1649 Alyth Par. Ch. 82.
That no person should … geat residence in this paroshe except [etc.] 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 327.
For the charging of the thrie paroschis and sumonding thais of the Barrounie parosche 1662 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 266. 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. 6 Sept.
To the poor of the parosch(d) 1617 Elgin Rec. II. 153.
Agnes Wat to be … banesit the toun and parasche 1697 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI. 48.
The respective schoolmrs. of the sead parashes(2) 11.. Liber Scon 6.
[Et decimam totius parochie de Scon 11.. Reg. Dunferm. 6.]
Ecclesie sancte Trinitatis parochiam 1545 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 347.
The paroch of Turreff c 1563 Reg. Panmure I. xxxi.
The paroece of Panbryd 1590 Dysart Rec. 41.
Of the proche of Dysert 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 256.
Symontoun paroch 1641 Acts V. (1817) 629/2.
Within the territorie libertie or paroche of the said burch of Innernes 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. 53.
Paroach 1682 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 40.
Sir John Falconer master of his majesties mint … from the tron kirk paroch 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 192.
Paroish 1700 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 29 Sept.

3. The inhabitants or members, also the appointed authorities, a. of a parish or b. of the landward part of a burgh parish. 1600-1610 Melvill 8.
To dispone … the right of the teind fisches to the paroche and toun, ane or bath 1613 Elgin Rec. II. 132.
That the toun and parosh prepair themselffis to communicat 1646 Comm. Gen. Assembly I. 28.
Compearing for the parosh of Haddingtoun ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 5.
I will tell you, o paroch of Camnethen 1674 Cunningham Diary 47.
To a poor man that had a testificat from the paroch of Drymen 1696 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 8 June.