Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PEND'ANT, n. [Fr. from L. pendeo, to hang, or Sp. pendon. See Pennon.]

1. An ornament or jewel hanging at the ear, usually composed of pearl or some precious stone. – Pope.
2. Any thing hanging by way of ornament. – Waller.
3. In heraldry, a part hanging from the label, resembling the drops in the Doric frieze. – Encyc.
4. A streamer; a small flag or long narrow banner displayed from a ship's mast head, usually terminating in two points, called the swallow's tail. It denotes that a ship is in actual service. The broad pendant is used to distinguish the chief of a squadron. – Mar. Dict.
5. A short piece of rope fixed on each side under the shrouds, on the heads of the main and fore-mast, having an iron thimble to receive the hooks of the tackle. – Mar. Dict. There are many other pendants consisting of a rope or ropes, to whose lower extremity is attached a block or tackle. The rudder-pendant is a rope made fast to the rudder by a chain, to prevent the loss of the rudder when unshipped. – Mar. Dict.
6. A pendulum. [Not used.] – Digby.