Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLEFT, n.

1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. – Is. ii. 21. Addison.
2. A disease in horses; a crack on the bought of the pastern. – Farrier's Dict.
3. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood. [This word is sometimes written clift.]