Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEA, n. see. [Sax. sæ, secge; G. sec; D. zee; Sw. siö, the sea, a lake or pool; Basque, sah; contracted from sæg, seeg. Hence Sax. gersege, garsecge, garsegg, the ocean. This word, like lake, signifies primarily a seat, sot or lay, a repository, a basin.]

1. A large basin, cistern or laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. This was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1 Kings vii. 2 Chron. iv.
2. A large body of water, nearly inclosed by land, as the Baltic or the Mediterranean; as, the sea of Azof. Seas are properly branches of the ocean, and upon the same level. Large bodies of water inland, and situated above the level of the ocean, are lakes. The appellation of sea, given to the Caspian lake, is an exception, and not very correct. So the lake of Galilee is called a sea, from the Greek.
3. The ocean; as, to go to sea. The fleet is at sea, or on the high seas.
4. A wave; a billow; a surge. The vessel shipped a sea.
5. The swell of the ocean in a tempest, or the direction of the waves; as, we head the sea.
6. Proverbially, a large quantity of liquor; as, a sea of blood.
7. A rough or agitated place or element. In a troubled sea of passion tost. – Milton. Half seas over, half drunk. [A low phrase.] – Spectator. On the high seas, in the open sea, the common highway of nations.