Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HATCH, v.t.¹ [G. hecken, aushecken, Dan. hekker, to hatch. This word seems to be connected with G. heck, Dan. hekke, Sw. häck, a hedge, Dan. hek, a fence of pales; and the hatches of a ship are doubtless of the same family. The sense probably is, to thrust out, to drive off, whence in Sw. hägn, a hedge, is also protection; hägna, to hedge, to guard. To hatch, is to exclude.]

1. To produce young from eggs by incubation, or by artificial heat. In Egypt chickens are hatched by artificial heat. The partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii.
2. To contrive or plot; to form by meditation, and bring into being; to originate and produce in silence; as, to hatch mischief; hatch heresy. Hooker.