Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LAN-IARD, n. [lan'yard; Fr. laniere, a strap.]

A short piece of rope or line, used for fastening something in ships, as the laniards of the gun-ports, of the buoy, of the cathook, &c., but especially used to extend the shrouds and stays of the masts, by their communication with the dead eyes, &c. – Mar. Dict.