Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MOOR, v.t. [Sp. and Port. amarra, a cable, and a command to belay or fasten; amarrar, to moor, as a ship; Fr. amarrer; Arm. amarra; D. maaren; allied probably to L. moror; Fr. demeurer, to delay. It is composed of the same elements as the Saxon merran, amerran, amyrran, to hinder, to mar.]

To confine or secure a ship in a particular station, as by cables and anchors or by chains. A ship is never said to be moored, when she rides by a single anchor. Mar. Dict.