Emily Dickinson Lexicon

bard (-s), n. [Gaelic, Old Celtic 'poet-singer, minstrel'.] (webplay: guitar, men).

1. Poet; playwright; author; prophet; virtuoso writer; [epithet] Shakespeare; [fig.] originator; Deity; Creator; Master; Supreme Being.
2. Musician; composer; singer; performer who sings while playing a lyre or guitar; [fig.] messenger; angel; seraph; winged creature.