Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GLOSS, n. [G. glosse, a gloss or comment; glotzen, to gleam, to glimmer. In Sax. glesan signifies to explain, to flatter, to gloze. From the Gr. γλωσσα, the tongue, and a strap, the L. has glossa, a tongue, and interpretation. In Heb. גלש signifies to shine, but from the sense of smoothness; Syr. ܓܠܫ galash, to peel, to shave, to make bald. Whether these words are all of one family, let the reader judge. The radical sense appears to be, to open, to make clear, and the sense of tongue is probably to extend. If the first letter is a prefix, the other letters Ls are the elements of Ir. leos, light, L. lustro, Eng. luster; and it is remarkable that in Russ. losk is luster, polish, and laskayu is to flatter. The Gr. γλωττα, in the Attic dialect, is a tongue, and in Swedish and German, glatt, Dan. glat, D. glad, is smooth.]

1. Brightness or luster of a body proceeding from a smooth surface; as, the gloss of silk; cloth is calendered to give it a gloss.
2. A specious appearance or representation; external show that may mislead opinion. It is no part of my secret meaning to set on the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford. Hooker.
3. An interpretation artfully specious. Sidney.
4. Interpretation; comment; explanation; remark intended to illustrate a subject. All this, without a gloss or comment, / He would unriddle in a moment. Hudibras. Explaining the text in short glosses. Baker.