Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PITCH, n.¹ [Sax. pic; D. pik; G. pech; Sw. beck; Dan. beg or beeg; Ir. pic or pech; W. pyg; Sp. pez; It. pece; Ir. poix; L. pix; Gr. πισσα or πιττα; most probably named from its thickness or inspissation, from the root of πηγω, πηγνυω, πησσω, L. figo. See Class Bg, No. 23, 24, 33, 66.]

1. A thick tenacious substance, the juice of a species of pine or fir called Abies picea, obtained by incision from the bark of the tree. When melted and pressed in bags of cloth, it is received into barrels. This is white or Burgundy pitch; by mixture with lampblack it is converted into black pitch. When kept long in fusion with vinegar, it becomes dry and brown, and forms colophony. The smoke of pitch condensed forms lampblack. – Fourcroy.
2. The impure resin of pine, or turpentine, inspissated; used in calking ships and paying the sides and bottom.