Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRINT, v.t. [W. printiaw, to print; Fr. imprimer, empreinte, Sp. imprimir; It. imprimere; from L. imprimo; in and premo, to press; It. improntare, to print, to importune, and this from prontare, to importune, (that is, to press,) from pronto, ready, bold, L. promptus, that is, pressed or pressing forward. In W. print is said by Owen to be from rhint, a groove or notch, and if this is the original word, print must be a different word from the Fr. imprimer. The Italian unites the L. premo and promo.]

1. In general, to take or form letters, characters or figures on paper, cloth or other material by impression. Thus letters are taken on paper by impressing it on types blackened with ink. Figures are printed on cloth by means of blocks or a cylinder. The rolling press is employed to take prints or impressions from copper-plates. Thus we say, to print books, to print calico, to print tunes, music, likenesses, &c.
2. To mark by pressing one thing on another. On his fiery steed betimes he rode, / That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod. – Dryden.
3. To impress any thing so as to leave its form. Perhaps some footsteps printed in the clay. – Roscommon.
4. To form by impression. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, nor print any marks upon you. – Lev. xix.