'parcel' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'parcelle', ultimately from Late Latin 'particella' (a diminutive of Latin 'pars') where 'pars' meant 'part'.

'particella' in Late Latin became Old French 'parcelle' and then entered Middle English as 'parcel', eventually forming the modern English verb and noun 'parcel' (and the derived forms like 'parceling').

Initially it meant 'a small part' or 'portion' (from Latin), but over time it evolved into the meanings 'a small package' and the verb sense 'to divide into parts' or 'to wrap/package something', which are the current usages.