Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEAL-ING-VOY-AGE, n.

A voyage for the purpose of killing seals and obtaining their skins.

SEAL-ING-WAX, n. [seal and wax.]

A compound of the resin lac, with some less brittle resin, and various coloring matters, used for fastening a folded letter, and thus concealing the writing, and for receiving impressions of seals set to instruments. Sealing-wax is hard or soft, and may be of any color.

SEA-LI-ON, n. [sea and Kon.]

An animal of the genus Phoca or seal, which has a mane like a lion, the Phoca jubata. – Encyc. Ed. Encyc.

SEAM, n.¹ [Sax. seam; D. zoom; G. saum; Dan. söm; Sw. söm, a seam, a suture; söma, to sew. The G. saum signifies a hem or border. The word probably signifies the uniting by sewing. In Danish, sömmer signifies to hem, and to beseem, to be seemly, to become, to be suitable. We see then that seam and seem, are from one root. The primary sense is to meet, to come or put together. See Same and Assemble. Class Sm, No. 33, 40.]

1. The suture or uniting of two edges of cloth by the needle. – Dryden. The coat was without seam, woven from the top through-out. – John xix.
2. The joint or juncture of planks in a ship's side or deck; or rather the intervals between the edges of boards or planks in a floor, &c. The seams of ships are filled with oakum, and covered with pitch.
3. In mines, a vein or stratum of metal, ore, coal, and the like. – Encyc. Kirwan. In geology, thin layers which separate strata of greater magnitude.
4. A cicatrix or sear.
5. A measure of eight bushels of corn; or the vessel that contains it. [Not used in America.] A seam of glass, the quantity of 120 pounds, or 24 stone of five pounds each. [Not used in America.] Encyc.

SEAM, n.² [Sax. seim; W. saim.]

Tallow; grease; lard. [Not in ate.] – Shak. Dryden.

SEAM, v.t.

1. To form a seam; to sew or otherwise unite.
2. To mark with a cicatrix; to scar; as, seamed with wounds. – Pope.

SEA-MAID, n. [sea and maid.]

1. The mermaid. [See Mermaid.] – Shak.
2. A sea-nymph.

SEA-MALL, or SEA-MEW, n.

A fowl, a species of gull or Larus.

SEA-MAN, n.¹ [sea and man.]

1. A sailor; a mariner; a man whose occupation is to assist in the management of ships at sea.
2. By way of distinction, a skillful mariner; also, a man who is well versed in the art of navigating ships. In this sense, it is applied both to officers and common mariners.
3. Merman, the male of the mermaid. [Little used.] – Locke.

SEA-MAN, n.² [See under SEA.]

SEA'MAN-LIKE, a.

Like a skillful seaman.

SEA-MAN-SHIP, n.

The skill of a good seaman; an acquaintance with the art of managing and navigating a ship; applicable both to officers and to men. Naval skill, is the art of managing a fleet, particularly in an engagement; a very different thing from seamanship.

SEA-MARK, n. [sea and mark.]

Any elevated object on land which serves for a direction to mariners in entering a harbor, or in sailing along or approaching a coast; a beacon; as a light-house, a mountain, &c. – Encyc.

SEAM-ED, pp.

Marked with seams; having seams or scars.

SEA-MEW, n.

A fowl, a species of gull or Larus.

SEAM-ING, ppr.

Marking with scars; making seams.

SEAM-LESS, a.

Having no seam; as, the seamless garment of Christ.

SEA-MON-STER, n. [sea and monster.]

A huge marine animal. – Lam. iv.

SEA-MOSS, n. [sea and moss.]

A name given to coral. [See Coral.]

SEA-MOUSE, n. [sea and mouse.]

A dorsibranchiate annelidanimal, of the genus Aphrodita. – Encyc.

SEAM-RENT, n. [seam and rent.]

The rent of a seam; the separation of a suture.

SEAM-STER, n.

One that sews well, or whose occupation is to sew.

SEAM-STRESS, n. [that is, Seamsteress; Sax. seamestre.]

A woman whose occupation is sewing.

SEAM-STRESS-Y, n.

The business of a seamstress.

SEAM-Y, a.

Having a seam; containing seams or showing them. Shak.