1350-1400;Middle English < Middle French;Old Frenchpare(v)is < Late Latinparadīsus church courtyard, orig. the one before St. Peter's, Rome. See paradise
British Dictionary definitions for parvis
parvis
/ˈpɑːvɪs/
noun
1.
a court or portico in front of a building, esp a church
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Late Latin paradīsusparadise