Emily Dickinson Lexicon

clutch (-ed), v. [ME clucche; An association arose between clutch and ME cloke, whereby cloke was gradually assimilated in form to clutch, to grasp with clokes or claws.] (webplay: hand).

1. Grasp; clench; hold tightly.
2. Make a snatch at; make an eager effort to seize.

coach (-es), n. [16^th c. coche < Fr. coche.] (webplay: borne, horses, vehicle).

1. Mourning-coach; closed carriage, usually black, used to convey mourners on the occasion of a funeral.
2. Large kind of carriage; in 16th and 17th centuries, usually a state carriage of royalty or people of quality.

coal (-s), n. [OE col.] (webplay: earth, fire, glowing).

1. Solid, hard, black mineral which is largely used as fuel; consists of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in former epochs of the world's history.
2. Piece of wood or carbon glowing without flame.

coast, n. [ME coste < L. costa, rib, flank, or side.] (webplay: sail, sea, shore).

1. Exterior limit or border of a country; [fig.] heaven; paradise.
2. Shore; edge of land next to the sea.

coat, n. [ME cote < Ger. kotze, a coarse shaggy woollen stuff, and a garment made of it.] (webplay: children, cloth, worn).

1. Outer garment worn on the upper body, often but not always for warmth.
2. Integument; external shell; natural covering; something that forms a covering for another thing.
3. Coating; layer of any substance covering a surface.
4. Garb as indicating profession; vesture of an order of people, indicating the order or office.

coax, v. [< cokes, a low word; in vulgar use long before becoming usual in literature. The original meaning seems to have been 'make a cokes of': fool, pet, gull.]

Wheedle; entice to go or come away; persuade by persistent urging or flattery.

cobweb, adj. [ME coppeweb < coppe spider and web.]

Thin; flimsy; feeble.

cobweb, n. [see cobweb, adj.] (webplay: filament).

1. Web or fine network spun by a spider; [fig.] frail structure.
2. Any accumulation left by neglect which ought to be swept away.

cochineal, adv. [Fr. cochenille < L. coccinum, scarlet robe or vesture.]

In red; with brilliant scarlet color.

cochineal, n. [see cochineal, adj.] (webplay: dyeing, gathered, giving, red).

1. Red; brilliant scarlet color.
2. Dye consisting of the dried bodies of the insect Coccus cacti, which is found on several species of cactus in Mexico and elsewhere.