An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. A part of any whole, either separated from or integrated with it.
   

   2. To divide into or distribute in portions or shares.

Etymology (EN): M.E. porcion, from O.Fr. porcion “part, portion, share,” from partion- “share, part, piece,” related to pars, → part.

Etymology (PE): Pâreš, from pâr “part, portion, piece” (variants pâré, parré “portion, segment (of an orange),” pargâlé, “piece, portion; patch;” (dialects Kermâni pariké “portion, half;” Tabari perik “minute quantity, particle;” Lârestâni pakva “patch;” Borujerdi parru “patch”);
Mid.Pers. pârag “piece, part, portion; gift, offering, bribe;” Av. pāra- “debt,” from par- “to remunerate, equalize; to condemn;” PIE *per- “to sell, hand over, distribute; to assigne;”
Gk. peprotai “it has been granted;” L. pars, as above; Skt. purti- “reward;” Hitt. pars-, parsiya- “to break, crumble”) + -eš suffix.