Guylines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Ropes or cords used to secure and stabilize tents or other structures by anchoring them to the ground
2. Supporting lines fastened to outdoor shelters to maintain their shape and prevent collapse during wind or other forces
3. Tensioned strings or cables attached to fabric constructions to ensure firmness and resist movement when set up outdoors

Etymology: "Guylines" is simply the plural of "guyline", the rope that holds a tent steady by pulling against the ground or a peg. The first half, "guy", is the older word: it names a rope or cord attached to something to steady or steer it, and it has been used in English in this sense for centuries. The second half, "line", is a cord or rope, so the compound is literally a rope-of-a-guy, the kind of cord that does the guying. The word's origin is plain, and it is a compound rather than a single borrowed term. Campers and sailors both use guy ropes, and the same idea of a steadying cord applies to the tall poles and masts that need bracing against wind.

Synonyms: guy ropes, support ropes, tension cables