Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BORE, v.t. [Sax. borian; Sw. bora; D. booren; Ger. bohren; Dan. borer, to bore; D. boor; Ger. bohrer; Dan. borre, a borer; L. foro and perforo, to bore, to perforate; Russ. burav, a borer; Gr. πειρω, to pierce or transfix; also, to pass over, in which sense it coincides with ferry. The Celtic ber, bear, a spit, L. veru, from thrusting or piercing, coincide in elements with this root. Pers. بَيَرْه birah, a borer.]

1. To perforate or penetrate a solid body and make a round hole by turning an auger, gimlet, or other instrument. Hence, to make hollow; to form a round hole; as, to bore a cannon.
2. To eat out or make a hollow by gnawing or corroding, as a worm.
3. To penetrate or break through by turning or labor; as, to bore through a crowd. – Gay.