Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HEMP, n. [Sax. henep; G. hanf; D. hennep or kennip; Sw. hampa; Dan. hamp; Fr. chanvre; Arm. canab; Ir. cannaib, cnaib; L. cannabis; Gr. κανναβις; Sp. cañamo; It. canapa; Russ. konopel. It is found in the Arabic. See Class Nb, No. 20, 26.]

1. A fibrous plant of the genus Cannabis, whose skin or bark is used for cloth and cordago. Hence, canvas, the coarse strong cloth used for sails.
2. The skin or rind of the plant, prepared for spinning. Large quantities of hemp are exported from Russia.