tarpaulin

[tahr-paw-lin, tahr-puh-lin]

noun

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarpaulin¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarpaulin¹

C17: probably from _tar ¹ + _pall ¹ + _-ing ¹

Example Sentences

Penelope was trying her best to erect a shelter for herself and the children; at the moment she was puzzling over which side of the tarpaulin was the top, and making no progress whatsoever.

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"We call on international organizations to coordinate more tents and tarpaulins and other winter humanitarian responses."

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There are crumpled signs for hospital departments strewn on the ground and medical records drying on a tarpaulin between the admin offices.

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So too will tarpaulins, given the extent of the housing crisis.

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Crowds of men set fire to pieces of tarpaulin as hundreds of police officers cordoned off several roads across the city, AFP correspondents reported.

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