Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HAG, n. [In Sax hægesse is a witch, fury or goblin, answering to the Hecate of mythology. In W. hagyr, ugly, is from hag, a gash, from the root of hack. In Russ. ega is a foolish old woman, a sorceress. See Hagard.]

1. An ugly old woman; as, an old hag of threescore. Dryden.
2. A witch; a sorceress; an enchantress. Shak.
3. A fury; a she-monster. Crashaw.
4. A cartilaginous fish, the Gastrobranchus, which enters other fishes and devours them. It is about five or six inches long, and resembles a small eel. It is allied to the lamprey. Cyc.
5. Appearances of light and fire on horses' manes or men's hair, were formerly called hags. Blount.