Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ICE, n. [Sax. is, isa; G. eis; D. ys; Dan. iis; Sw. and Ice. is; Ir. cuise. The true orthography would be ise. The primary sense is doubtless to set, to fix, to congeal or harden. It may be allied to the G. eisen, iron; perhaps also to L. os, a bone.]

1. Water or other fluid congealed, or in a solid state; a solid, transparent, brittle substance, formed by the congelation of a fluid, by means of the abstraction of the heat necessary to preserve its fluidity, or to use common language, congealed by cold.
2. Concreted sugar. To break the ice, is to make the first opening to any attempt; to remove the first obstructions or difficulties; to open the way. Shak. Ice period, a period supposed to have occurred after the tertiary formations were deposited, in which, at least, the frigid and temperate zones were covered with a coat of ice.