Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DECK, v.t. [D. dekken; G. decken; Sw. täckia; Dan. tækker; Sax. gedecan and thecan and theccan; L. tego, to cover, whence tectum, a roof, Fr. toit. The Gr. has τεγος, a roof, but the verb has a prefix, ςεγω, to cover. Hence L. tegula, a tile. The Ir. teach, a house, contracted in Welsh to ty, may be of the same family. In Ger. dach is a roof, and thatch may be also of this family. Class Dg, No. 2, 3, 10. The primary sense is to put on, to throw over, or to press and make close.]

1. Primarily, to cover; to overspread; to put on. Hence,
2. To clothe; to dress the person; but usually, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish. The dew with spangles decked the ground. – Dryden.
3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.