Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEAT, n. [Sax. mæte, mete; Goth. mats; Sw. mat; Dan. mad; Hindoo mas. In W. maethu signifies to feed, to nourish, Corn. methia. In the language of the Mohegans, in America, meetseh signifies, eat thou; meetsoo, he eats. Qu. maiz and mast.]

1. Food in general; any thing eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb – to you it shall be for meat. Gen. i. Every moving thing that liveth, shall be meat for you. Gen. ix. Thy carcase shall be meat to all fowls of the air. Deut. xxviii.
2. The flesh of animals used as food. This is now the more usual sense of the word. The meat of carnivorous animals is tough, coarse and ill flavored. The meat of herbivorous animals is generally palatable.
3. In Scripture, spiritual food; that which sustains and nourishes spiritual life or holiness. My flesh is meat indeed. John vi.
4. Spiritual comfort; that which delights the soul. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me. John iv.
5. Products of the earth proper for food. Hab. iii.
6. The more abstruse doctrines of the Gospel, or mysteries of religion. Heb. v.
7. Ceremonial ordinances. Heb. xiii. To sit at meat, to sit or recline at the table. Scripture.