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tarpaulin

[ tahr-paw-lin, tahr-puh-lin ]
/ tɑrˈpɔ lɪn, ˈtɑr pə lɪn /
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noun
a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax.
a hat, especially a sailor's, made of or covered with such material.
Rare. a sailor.
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Origin of tarpaulin

1595–1605; earlier tarpauling.See tar1, pall1, -ing1

Words nearby tarpaulin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tarpaulin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tarpaulin

tarpaulin
/ (tɑːˈpɔːlɪn) /

noun
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
a sheet of this fabric
a hat of or covered with this fabric, esp a sailor's hat
a rare word for seaman

Word Origin for tarpaulin

C17: probably from tar 1 + pall 1 + -ing 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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