bill, Pynchon has a penchant for stretching the meanings of words to their <ahem> limits. but here are some more to consider:
1. A circuit, compass, or circumference.
2. esp. A space surrounding a house, castle, town, etc.; the precincts, liberties, ‘verge.’
3. The confines, bounds, limits of a district.
4. fig. Extent, compass, sphere, of actions, words, thoughts, etc.