Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GUY, n. [gī; Sp. and Port. guia, from guiar, to guide. See Guide.]

In marine affairs, a rope used to keep a heavy body steady while hoisting or lowering; also, a tackle to confine a boom forward, when a vessel is going large, and to prevent the sail from gybing. Guy is also a large slack rope, extending from the head of the main-mast to that of the fore-mast, to sustain a tackle for loading or unloading. Mar. Dict.