Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHORE, n.¹ [Sax. score.]

The coast or land adjacent to the ocean or sea, or to a large lake or river. This word is applied primarily to the land, contiguous to water; but it extends also to the ground near the bonder of the sea or of a lake, which is covered with water. We also use the word to express the land near the border of the sea or of a great lake, to an indefinite extent; as when we say, a town stands on the shore. We do not apply the word to the land contiguous to a small stream. This we call a bank.