Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RAKE, v.i.

1. To scrape: to scratch into for finding something; to search minutely and meanly; as, to rake into a dunghill. – South.
2. To search with minute inspection into every part. One is for raking in Chaucer for antiquated words. – Dryden.
3. To pass with violence or rapidity. Pas could not stay, but over him did rake. – Sidney.
4. To seek by raking; as, to rake for oysters.
5. To lead a dissolute, debauched life. – Shenstone.
6. To incline from a perpendicular direction; as, a mast rakes aft.