Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

recursive descent parser
     
         A "top-down" {parser} built from a set of
        {mutually-recursive} procedures or a non-recursive equivalent
        where each such procedure usually implements one of the
        {production}s of the {grammar}.  Thus the structure of the
        resulting program closely mirrors that of the grammar it
        recognises.
     
        ["Recursive Programming Techniques", W.H. Burge, 1975, ISBN
        0-201-14450-6].
     
        (1995-04-28)