Vicinage is a term used to describe the AREA or VICINITY surrounding a particular place. It is derived from the Latin word vicinus, which means 'NEIGHBORING'. Vicinage is often used to refer to the AREA within a certain distance of a city or town, or the AREA within a certain radius of a point on a map. The term can also be used to refer to the AREA around a court or other legal jurisdiction. In the crossword puzzle, the term VICINITY was used to describe an AREA with 8 letters, and AREA was used to describe an AREA with 4 letters.