Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLUB, n. [W. clopa, clwpa, coinciding with clap, a lump, and clob, clobyn; G. klöpfel; D. klaver; Sw. klubba; Dan. klubbe; L. clava. The sense is probably a knob or lump, W. llwb, llob, whence lubber. It is evidently connected with cleave, to stick or cling, Dan. klebber.]

1. Properly, a stick or piece of wood, with one end thicker and heavier than the other, and no larger than can be wielded with the hand.
2. A thick heavy stick, that may be managed with the hand, and used for beating, or defense. In early ages, a club was a principal instrument of war and death; a fact remarkably perpetuated in the accounts which history relates of the achievements of Hercules with his club. Plin. lib. 7, cap. 56. This use of the club was the origin of the scepter, as a badge of royalty.
3. The name of one of the suits of cards; so named from its figure.
4. A collection or assembly of men; usually a select number of friends met for social or literary purposes. Any small private meeting of persons. – Dryden.
5. A collection of expenses; the expenses of a company, or unequal expenses of individuals, united for the purpose of finding the average or proportion of each individual. Hence the share of each individual in joint expenditure is called his club, that is, his proportion of a club, or joint charge.
6. Contribution; joint charge. – Hudibras. Club of Hercules. The story of Hercules with his club originated in the use of clubs, as weapons of war and other achievements, among rude nations, before the invention of other instruments and the use of iron. Hence striking, beating, was the first mode of killing; and hence smite and slay, properly signifying to strike, came to signify to kill. Hercules was the leader of a savage band, who wielded the heaviest club; and hence the club was the origin of the scepter, which is in the shape of a club, coinciding with Latin scipio. Any bold warrior at the head of a predatory band was a Hercules.