Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FISC, n. [L. fiscus; Fr. fisc; Sp. fisco; It. id. Fiscus, φισκος, signifies a basket or hanaper, probably from the twigs which composed the first baskets, Eng. whisk. The word coincides in elements with basket, and L. fascia, twigs being the primitive bands.]

The treasury of a prince or state; hence, to confiscate is to take the goods of a criminal and appropriate them to the public treasury.