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
   productions 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)