Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SIRE, n. [supra.]

1. A father; used in poetry. And raise his issue like a loving sire. – Shak.
2. The male parent of a beast; particularly used of horses; as, the horse had a good sire, but a bad dam. Johnson.
3. It is used in composition; as, in grandsire, for grandfather; great grandsire, great grandfather.