Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PASTE, n. [Fr. pâte, for paste; It. and Sp. pasta. Qu. L. pistus, or Gr. πασσω, to sprinkle, or some root which signifies to mix and knead.]

1. A soft composition of substances, as flour moistened with water or milk and kneaded, or any kind of earth moistened and formed to the consistence of dough. Paste made of flour is used in cookery; paste made of flour or earth is used in various arts and manufactures as a cement.
2. An artificial mixture in imitation of precious stones or gems, used in the glass trade. – Encyc.
3. In mineralogy, the mineral substance in which other minerals are imbedded.