Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CORK, n. [D. kurk; G. kork; Sw. korck; Dan. kork; Sp. corcho; Russ. korka; Fr. ecorce; L. cortex, bark, rind, shell, crust.]

1. A glandiferous tree, a species of Quercus, growing in Spain and Portugal, having a thick, rough, fungous, cleft bark.
2. The outer bark of the tree, or epidermis, of which stopples for bottles and casks are made. This outer bark is taken off, and a new epidermis is formed, which, in six or seven years becomes fit for use. This bark is also burnt to make a kind of light black, called Spanish black.
3. A stopple for a bottle or cask, cut out of cork.