Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KING, n. [Sax. cyng, cynig, or cyning; G. könig; D. koning; Sw. konung, kung; Dan. konge; W. cûn, a chief, a leader, one that attracts or draws. If the Welsh word is the same or of the same family, it proves that the primary sense is a leader, a guide, or one who goes before, for the radical sense of the verb must be to draw. It coincides in elements with the Ir. cean, head, and with the Oriental khan, or kaun. The primary sense is probably a head, a leader.]

1. The chief magistrate or sovereign of a nation; a man invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country. Kings are absolute monarchs, when they possess the powers of government without control, or the entire sovereignty over a nation; they are called limited monarchs, when their power is restrained by fixed laws. Kings are hereditary sovereigns, when they hold the powers of government by right of birth or inheritance, and elective, when raised to the throne by choice. Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle. – Burke.
2. A sovereign; a prince; a ruler. Christ is called the king of his church. – Ps. ii.
3. A card having the picture of a king; as, the king of diamonds.
4. The chief piece in the game of chess. King at arms, an officer in England of great antiquity, and formerly of great authority, whose business is to direct the heralds, preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of armory. There are three kings at arms, viz. garter, clarencieux, and norroy. The latter [northroy] officiates north of the Trent. – Encyc.