[Fr., f. arrondiss- lengthened stem of arrondir: see prec. and -MENT.]
1. The action of rounding off an ontline. rare.
1815. Scott, Paul’s Lett. (1839), 171. Arrondissements … under sanction of which cities and … kingdoms have been passed from one government to another.
2. An administrative sub-division of the departments of France, comprising a number of communes.
1807. Pinkerton, Mod. Geog. (1811), 121. The electoral colleges of the arondissements or districts.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xiv. 259. The Deputies assembled at the Mayoralty of the 10th arrondissement.
