tarpaulin

American  

[tahr-paw-lin, tahr-puh-lin] / tɑrˈpɔ lɪn, ˈtɑr pə lɪn /

noun

tarpaulins plural

1. a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax.

2. a hat, especially a sailor's, made of or covered with such material.

3. Rare. a sailor.

---

tarpaulin British  

/ tɑːˈpɔːlɪn /

noun

1. a heavy hard-wearing waterproof fabric made of canvas or similar material coated with tar, wax, or paint, for outdoor use as a protective covering against moisture

2. a sheet of this fabric

3. a hat of or covered with this fabric, esp a sailor's hat

4. a rare word for seaman

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tarpaulins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tarpaulin

1595–1605; earlier tarpauling. See tar ¹, pall ¹, -ing ¹

Explanation

A tarpaulin is a heavy, waterproof piece of fabric that's used as a protective cover or shelter. You might drape a tarpaulin over your tent when it starts raining in the middle of your camping trip. Or you can just go home. Tarpaulins are often called tarps for short. The word probably includes tar because of the original method for waterproofing a tarpaulin, which involved spreading tar on a heavy piece of canvas. The pall part means "cloth." During the 19th century, it was common to abbreviate the word as paulin, especially in nautical terminology.

Example Sentences

Tarpaulin and plastic sheets made for temporary shelters for a lucky few while thousands of others spent a third night in the cold.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2023

Tarpaulin sags from the roof over a rain-induced hole, the intermittent streamers shimmering overhead seemingly an antidote to the unsightly spectre.

From The Guardian • Jul. 10, 2015

Tarpaulin roofs have been covered with mud bricks as homes have morphed into permanent settlements.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2014

But first, we put into Tarpaulin Cove, halfway up the sound, to enjoy the view of the lighthouse and the small beach.

From Time Magazine Archive

Percy could picture the expression on the millionaire's features when he learned that his son had broken his promise and sneaked away from Tarpaulin Island, like a thief in the night.

From Jim Spurling, Fisherman or Making Good by Tolman, Albert Walter