precinct

Noun

A district or subdivision of a city or town.
a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls.
The general area surrounding a place, environs.
A pedestrianized and uncovered shopping area.
A subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
A subdivision of a city or other locality for the purposes of voting and representation in local government. In cities, precincts may be grouped into wards.
A district over which someone or some body of people has control in general; province, sphere of control.
A surrounding boundary or limit.

Examples

This section of the Scrabble board felt like a separate PRECINCT, ripe for a high-scoring word.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English precinct, precincte, early 15th century, in sense of “district for government purposes”, from Medieval Latin precinctum, alternative form of praecinctum (“enclosure, boundary line”), neuter singular of praecinctus, perfect passive participle of Latin praecingō (“surround, gird”), from prae (“before”) + cingō (“surround, encircle”), from which also cinch.
Cognate to Italian precingere (“to encircle”).

Scrabble Score: 14

precinct: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
precinct: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
precinct: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

precinct: valid Words With Friends Word