Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LOT, n. [Sax. hlot, hlodd, hlet, hlyt; Goth. hlauts; D. and Fr. lot; Sw. lott; Dan. and Arm. lod; G. los; It. lotto; Sp. loteria, a lottery. The primary sense is that which comes falls or happens, or a part, a division, or share. The French from lot, have lotir, to divide; Arm. loda, id. whence lodecq, a co-heir.]

1. That which, in human speech, is called chance, hazard fortune; but in strictness of language, is the determination of Providence; as, the land shall be divided by lot. – Num. xxvi.
2. That by which the fate or portion of one is determined that by which au event is committed to chance, that is the determination of Providence; as, to cast lots; to draw lots. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. – Prov. xvi.
3. The part, division or fate which falls to one by chance, that is, by divine determination. The second lot came forth to Simeon. – Josh. xix. He was but born to try / The lot of man, to falter and to die. – Pope.
4. A distinct portion or parcel; as, a lot of goods; a lot of boards.
5. Proportion or share of taxes; as, to pay scot and lot.
6. In the United States, a piece or division of land; perhaps originally assigned by drawing lots, but now any portion, piece or division. So we say, a man has a lot of land in Broadway, or in the meadow; he has a lot in the plain, or on the mountain; he has a home-lot, a house-lot, a wood-lot. The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York. Kent. Franklin. Law of Penn. To cast lots, is to use or throw a die, or some other instrument, by the unforeseen turn or position of which, an event is by previous agreement determined. To draw lots, to determine an event by drawing one thing from a number whose marks are concealed from the drawer, and thus determining an event.