Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LIST, n.¹ [Sax. list, Sw. list; It. and Sp. lista; Fr. and Dan. liste; D. lyst; G. litze. If list, a roll or catalogue, and list, a border or strip of cloth, are from the same root, we find the original orthography in the Arm. lez, and Sp. liza, and perhaps the L. licium; Fr. lice. But in some languages the words are distinguished; Fr. liste, a roll, and lisiere, a list or selvage of cloth.]

1. In commerce, the border, edge or selvage of cloth; a strip of cloth forming the border, particularly of broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it.
2. A line inclosing or forming the extremity of a piece of ground, or field of combat; hence, the ground or field inclosed for a race or combat; hence, to enter the lists, is to accept a challenge or engage in contest. Hence,
3. A limit or boundary; a border.
4. In architecture, a little square molding; a fillet; called also a listel.
5. A roll or catalogue, that is, a row or line; as, a list of names; a list of books; a list of articles; a list of ratable estate.
6. A strip of cloth; a fillet. – Swift. Civil list, in Great Britain and the United States, the civil officers of government, as judges, embassadors, secretaries, &c. Hence it is used for the revenues or appropriations of public money for the support of the civil officers.