Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEA-GIRT, a. [sea and girt.]

Surrounded by the water of the sea or ocean; as, a sea-girt isle. – Milton.

SEA-GOD, n. [sea and god.]

A marine deity; a fabulous being supposed to preside over the ocean or sea; as Neptune.

SEA-GOWN, n. [sea and gown.]

A gown or garment with short sleeves, worn by mariners. – Shak.

SEA-GRASS, n. [sea and grass.]

A plant growing on the sea-shore; an aquatic plant of the genus Ruppia. – Lee.

SEA-GREEN, a. [sea and green.]

Having the color of sea-water; being of a faint green color. – Locke. Pope.

SEA-GREEN, n.

1. The color of sea-water.
2. A plant, the saxifrage.

SEA-GULL, n. [sea and gull.]

A fowl of the genus Larus; a species of gull; called also sea-crow.

SEA-HARE, n. [sea and hare.]

A marine animal, whose body is covered with membranes reflected; it has a lateral pore on the right side, and four feelers resembling ears. The body is nearly oval, soft, gelatinous and punctated. Its juice is poisonous, and it is so fetid as to cause nausea. – Encyc.

SEA-HEDGE-HOG, n.

A species of Echinus, so called from its prickles, which resemble in some measure those of the hedgehog or urchin. – Carew.

SEA-HEN, n. [sea and hen.]

Another name of the guillemot.

SEA-HOG, n. [sea and hog.]

The porpess, – which see.

SEA-HOLLY, n. [sea and holly.]

A plant of genus Eryngium. – Lee.

SEA-HOLM, n. [sea and Dan. holm, an isle.]

1. A small uninhabited isle.
2. Sea-holly. Carew.

SEA-HORSE, n. [sea and horse.]

1. In zoology, the morse, a species of Trichechus or walrus. – Woodward.
2. The hippopotamus, or river-horse.
3. A fish of the needle-fish kind, four or five inches in length, and half an inch in diameter. – Hill. A fish of the genus Syngnathus, S. hippocampus, Lin.

SEAL, n.¹ [Sax. seol, sele, syle; Sw. siäl.]

The common name for the species of the genus Phoca. These animals are amphibious, most of them inhabiting the sea coasts, particularly in the higher latitudes. They have six cutting teeth in the upper jaw, and four in the lower. Their hind feet are placed at the extremity of the body, in the same direction with it, and serve the purpose of a caudal fin; the fore feet are also adapted for swimming, and furnished each with five claws; the external ears are either very small or wanting. There are numerous species; as the leonina, sometimes 18 feet in length, and the jubata, sometimes 25 feet in length, with a mane like a lion, both called sea-lion, and found in the southern seas, and also in the N. Pacific; the ursina, or sea-bear, 8 or 9 feet in length, and covered with long thick and bristly hair, found in the N. Pacific; and the common seal [P. vitulina,] from four to six feet in length, found generally throughout the Atlantic and the seas and bays communicating with it, covered with short, stiff, glossy hair, with a smooth head without external ears, and with the fore legs deeply immersed in the skin. Seals are much sought after for their skins and fur. – Ed. Encyc. Encyc.

SEAL, n.² [Sax. sigel, sigle; G. siegel; D. zegel; Dan. seigl, segl; Fr. sceau; Arm. syell; L. sigillum; It. sigillo; Sp. sigilo. It is uncertain what was the original signification of seal, whether an image or some ornament. In Saxon, the word signifies a necklace, or ornament for the neck, a stud or boss, a clasp, and a seal.]

1. A piece of metal or other hard substance, usually round or oval, on which is engraved some image or device, and sometimes a legend or inscription. This is used by individuals, corporate bodies, and states, for making impressions on wax upon instruments of writing, as an evidence of their authenticity. The king of England has his great seal and his privy seal. Seals are sometimes worn in rings.
2. The wax set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal. Thus we give a deed under hand and seal. Wax is generally used in sealing instruments, but other substances may be used.
3. The wax or wafer that makes fast a letter or other paper.
4. Any act of confirmation. – Milton.
5. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; assurance. – 2 Tim. ii.
6. That which effectually shuts, confines, or secures; that which makes fast. – Rev. xx.

SEAL, v.i.

To fix a seal. I will seal unto this bond. [Unusual.] – Shak.

SEAL, v.t. [Sw. besegla, försegla; Dan. besegler, forsegler; G. siegeln; D. zegelen. The root signifies, probably, to set, to fix, to impress, or to cut or engrave.]

1. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, or with wax; as, to seal a letter.
2. To set or affix a seal as a mark of authenticity; as, to seal a deed. Hence,
3. To confirm; to ratify; to establish. And with my hand I seal nor true hearts' love. – Shak. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. Rom. xv.
4. To shut or keep close; sometimes with up. Seal your lips; seal up your lips. – Shak. Open your ears, and seal your bosom upon the secret concerns of a friend. – Dwight.
5. To make fast. So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch. – Matth. xxvii.
6. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality. By our laws, weights and measures are to be sealed by an officer appointed and sworn for that purpose; and leather is to be sealed by a like officer, as evidence that it has been inspected and found to be of good quality. – Laws of Conn.
7. To keep secret. Shut up the words, and seal the book. – Dan. xii. Is. viii.
8. To mark, as one's property, and secure from danger. – Cant. iv.
9. To close; to fulfill; to complete; with up. – Dan. ix.
10. To imprint on the mind; as, to seal instruction. – Job xxxiii.
11. To inclose; to hide; to conceal. – Job xiv.
12. To confine; to restrain. – Job xxxiii.
13. In architecture, to fix a piece of wood or iron in a wall with cement. – Encyc.

SEAL-ED, pp.

Furnished with a seal; fastened with a seal; confirmed; closed.

SEA-LEGS, n. [sea and leg.]

The ability to walk on a ship's deck when pitching or rolling. – Mar. Dict.

SEA-LEM-ON, n. [sea and lemon.]

A nudibranchiate gasteropodous molluscum, of the genus Doris, having an oval body, convex, marked with numerous punctures, and of a lemon color. – Encyc.

SEALER, n.

1. One who seals; an officer in chancery, who seals writs and instruments.
2. In New England, an officer appointed by the town or other proper authority, to examine and try weights and measures, and set a stamp on such as are according to the standards established by the state; also, an officer who inspects leather, and stamps such as is good. Those are called sealers of weights and measures, and scalers of leather.

SEA-LIKE, a. [sea and like.]

Resembling the sea. – Thomson.

SEAL-ING, n. [from seal, the animal.]

The operation of taking seals and curing their skins.

SEAL-ING, ppr.

Fixing a seal; fastening with a seal; confirming; closing; keeping secret; fixing a piece of wood or iron in a wall with cement.