Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ER'RAND, n. [Sax. ærend, a message, mandate, legation, business, narration; ærendian, to tell or relate; Sw. ärende; Dan. ærinde.]

1. A verbal message; a mandate or order; something to be told or done; a communication to be made to some person at a distance. The servant was sent on an errand; he told his errand; he has done the errand. These are the most common modes of using this word. I have a secret errand to thee, O king. Judges iii.
2. Any special business to be transacted by a messenger.