Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CORB'AN, n. [L. corbis; D. korf; G. korb; Sw. korg; Dan. kurv; Fr. corbeille; Eth. ከረቦ karbo, a wicker basket; Russ. korban, a church box or chest a treasury. But in Ethiopic, korban is an oblation, that which is offered to God, a gift, sacrifice, coinciding with the Heb. קרבן, from קרב to approach, to cause to approach, to bring or offer.]

1. In Jewish antiquity, an offering which had life; an animal offered to God; in opposition to the mincha, which was an offering without life. It is a gift, corban, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; that is, I have devoted that to God which you ask of me, and it is no longer mine to give. It is a gift, corban, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; that is, I have devoted that to God which you ask of me, and it is no longer mine to give. – Encyc.
2. An alms-basket; a vessel to receive gifts of charity; a gift; an alms; a treasury of the church, where offerings are deposited. – Calmet.
3. Among Mohammedans, a ceremony performed at the foot of Mount Arrarat in Arabia, near Mecca. It consists in killing a number of sheep, and distributing them among the poor. – Encyc.