Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHROUD, n. [Sax. scrud, clothing.]

1. A shelter; a cover; that which covers, conceals or protects. Swaddled, as new born, in sable shrouds. – Sandys.
2. The dress of the dead; a winding sheet. – Young.
3. Shroud or shrouds of a ship, a range of large ropes extending from the head of a mast to the right and left sides of the ship, to support the mast; as, the main shrouds; fore shrouds; mizzen shrouds. There are also futtock shrouds, bowsprit shrouds, &c. – Mar. Dict.
4. A branch of a tree. [Not proper.] – Warton.