Parson and Person Are the Same Word
A parson is a parish clergyman. The word is a variant of person, from the idea of representing the parish in law.
A parson is a parish priest, particularly in the Church of England. The word is simply *person* in an older pronunciation: the parson was the legal *persona* of the parish, the individual in whom its rights and property were vested. English kept both spellings and gave them entirely separate careers.
- A parish clergyman. *The village parson.*
- Parsonage — the parson's house. *The old parsonage.*
- Parson's nose — the tail of a cooked bird. *The parson's nose.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | parson | A country parson. |
| Plural | parsons | Two parsons. |
| Noun | parsonage | A Georgian parsonage. |
| Related | person | A private person. |
| Related | vicar | The parish vicar. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Parson and person are the same word.From Latin *persona*.
- The parson's nose is the tail.Of a roast chicken.
- A parsonage is the house provided.Also called a rectory or vicarage.
Church of England clergy titles
- Rector — historically received the full tithes of a parish
- Vicar — a substitute, receiving only part of them
- Curate — an assistant, often newly ordained
- Parson — a general term for a parish incumbent
- Priest-in-charge — a modern title for a temporary incumbent
From Anglo-French *persone*, from Latin *persona*, a person — the parson being the legal person of the parish.
Rector or vicar?
Historically a rector received the parish tithes directly and a vicar was a substitute receiving only part. The distinction survives mainly in titles.
Why is the tail called the parson's nose?
A jocular usage of uncertain age, playing on the shape and on irreverence towards the clergy.