Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRACK'ET, n. [Fr. braquer, to bend. Qu. Oriental ברך, Ar. Ch. Heb. Syr. Sam. and Eth., to bend the knee; hence it signifies the knee.]

1. Among workers in timber, an angular wooden stay, in form of the knee bent, to support shelves, scaffolds and the like.
2. The cheek of a mortar carriage, made of strong plank. – Encyc.
3. In printing, hooks; thus, [ ].