Emily Dickinson Lexicon

hill (-s), n. [OE hyll < Germanic.] (webplay: above, cover, earth, land, plants, rising).

1. Rise; natural elevation in the earth's surface.
2. Calvary; place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
3. Pile; collection; amassment; accumulation; [fig.] grave; place of burial; small mound of earth.
4. Phrase. “Hill of Science”: education; challenge of learning; discovery of knowledge; (see ED Letter 5, p. 10 “Miss … is going to finish her education next summer … She will then have learned all that we poor foot-travellers are toiling up the hill of knowledge to acquire”).