Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TILE, n. [Sax. tigel; D. tegel or tichgel; G. ziegel; Dan. and Sw. tegel; L. tegula; It. tegola; Sp. teja; contracted. This word is undoubtedly from the root of L. tego, to cover, Eng. to deck.]

1. A plate or piece of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings. The pins for fastening tiles are made of oak or fir. Moxon. In metallurgy, a small flat piece of dried earth, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused.
2. A piece of baked clay used in drains.