Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SKETCH, n. [D. schets; G. skizze; Fr. esquisse; Sp. esquicio; It. schizzo, a sketch, a squirting, a spurt, a gushing, a leap, hop or frisking; schizzare, to squirt, to spin, stream or spout. We see the primary sense of the verb is to throw, the sense of shoot, It. scattare, L. scateo.]

An outline or general delineation of any thing; a first rough or incomplete draught of a plan or any design; as, the sketch of a building; the sketch of an essay.