Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GEAR, n. [Sax. gearwian, gyrian, to prepare; gearw, prepared, prompt; gearwa, habit, clothing, apparatus; G. gar, D. gaar, dressed, done, ready; perhaps Sw. garfva, to tan.]

1. Apparatus; whatever is prepared; hence, habit; dress; ornaments. Array thyself in her most gorgeous gear. Spenser.
2. More generally, the harness or furniture of beasts; whatever is used in equipping horses or cattle for draught; tackle.
3. In Scotland, warlike accouterments; also, goods, riches. Jamieson.
4. Business; matters. [Obs.] Spenser.
5. By seamen pronounced jears, – which see.