diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/util.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/util.py
index 3c3d8c41..04690684 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/util.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/util.py
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ async def copy(
     mode: int | None = None,
     throw: bool = True,
     recursive: bool = False,
+    parents: bool = False,
 ) -> Exception | str | list[str]:
 
     # Destination address / addresses
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ async def copy(
     if not isinstance(src, (str, FileContext)):
         ret = []
         for uri in src:  # TODO: Group identical netlocs into one CopyContext
-            rr = await copy(uri, dst, owner, group, mode, throw, recursive)
+            rr = await copy(uri, dst, owner, group, mode, throw, recursive, parents)
             if isinstance(rr, Exception):
                 return rr
             if isinstance(rr, list):
@@ -225,10 +226,32 @@ async def copy(
 
         async with CopyContext(src, dst) as ctx:
 
+            src_uri = src.uri if isinstance(src, FileContext) else Uri(src)
             ret = '' if ctx.dst.chroot else ctx.dst.root
-            if ret:
+            if parents:
+                # -- cp --parents: the source lands at its source path
+                #    below the destination root, each parent level
+                #    typed by the source-side node it mirrors
+                parts = [p for p in src_uri.path.split('/') if p]
+                if parts:
+                    src_path = '/'.join(parts)
+                    base = ret
+                    ret = f'{base}/{src_path}' if base else src_path
+                    s_cur = ''
+                    for part in parts[:-1]:
+                        s_cur = f'{s_cur}/{part}' if s_cur else part
+                        d_cur = f'{base}/{s_cur}' if base else s_cur
+                        if await ctx.dst.is_dir(d_cur):
+                            continue
+                        level_ctx = FileContext.create(
+                            f'{ctx.src.uri.scheme_plus_authority}/{s_cur}',
+                            chroot = True,
+                        )
+                        async with level_ctx:
+                            ftype = (await level_ctx.stat('')).ftype
+                        await ctx.dst.mkdir(d_cur, ftype = ftype)
+            elif ret:
                 # Land the source's basename within existing destination directories
-                src_uri = src.uri if isinstance(src, FileContext) else Uri(src)
                 basename = os.path.basename(src_uri.path.rstrip('/'))
                 if basename and await ctx.dst.is_dir(ret):
                     ret += '/' + basename
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/util/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/util/test.py
index e207eed8..0520ee3b 100644
--- a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/util/test.py
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/util/test.py
@@ -123,6 +123,48 @@ async def run_tests() -> None:
         assert isinstance(ret, list), ret
         assert os.path.join(tmp, 'dst/slash/a/f1') in ret, ret
 
+        # -- parents lands the object at its source path below the
+        #    destination root, like cp --parents
+        dst_parents = os.path.join(tmp, 'dst/parents')
+        os.makedirs(dst_parents)
+        src_single = os.path.join(tmp, 'src/single')
+        ret = await copy(uri(src_single), uri(dst_parents), parents = True)
+        assert ret == dst_parents + src_single, ret
+        with open(dst_parents + src_single) as f:
+            assert f.read() == 'solo\n'
+
+        # -- parents on a tree lands the tree at its source path
+        dst_ptree = os.path.join(tmp, 'dst/ptree')
+        os.makedirs(dst_ptree)
+        src_tree = os.path.join(tmp, 'src/a')
+        ret = await copy(
+            uri(src_tree), uri(dst_ptree), recursive = True, parents = True
+        )
+        assert isinstance(ret, list), ret
+        expected = dst_ptree + src_tree
+        assert sorted(ret) == sorted([
+            os.path.join(expected, 'f1'),
+            os.path.join(expected, 'sub/f2'),
+            os.path.join(expected, 'sub/subsub/f3'),
+        ]), ret
+        assert os.path.isdir(os.path.join(expected, 'empty')), ret
+
+        # -- a chrooted context source lands at its URI path
+        dst_pchroot = os.path.join(tmp, 'dst/pchroot')
+        os.makedirs(dst_pchroot)
+        src_fc = Local(uri(src_tree), chroot = True)
+        ret = await copy(src_fc, uri(dst_pchroot), recursive = True, parents = True)
+        assert isinstance(ret, list), ret
+        assert os.path.isfile(os.path.join(dst_pchroot + src_tree, 'f1')), ret
+
+        # -- re-copying with parents replaces content, not layout
+        with open(dst_parents + src_single, 'w') as f:
+            f.write('replaced\n')
+        ret = await copy(uri(src_single), uri(dst_parents), parents = True)
+        assert ret == dst_parents + src_single, ret
+        with open(dst_parents + src_single) as f:
+            assert f.read() == 'solo\n'
+
         # -- A missing source fails loudly
         try:
             await copy(