PAROL PARO'LE, noun [Latin parabola.] 1. Properly, a word; hence, in a legal sense, words or oral declaration; word of mouth. Formerly, conveyances were made by parol or word of mouth only. 2. Pleadings in a suit; as anciently all pleadings were viva voce or ore tenus. The parol may demur. PAROL PARO'LE, adjective Given by word of mouth; oral; not written; as parol evidence. [It would be well to write this word parole, in uniformity with the following, there being no good reason for a distinction.] PARO'LE, noun [See parol ] Word of mouth. In military affairs, a promise given by a prisoner of war, when he has leave to depart from custody, that he will return at the time appointed, unless discharged. A parole is properly a verbal or unwritten promise, but I believe it is customary to take a promise in writing.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI