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

Five thousand families were living under rudimentary tarpaulins in the camp we visited, surrounded by mud and with minimal sanitation.

From BBC

Today, her old home is covered by tarpaulin and scaffolding, as a construction team converts it into luxury "one, two and three-bed apartments designed for short and medium-term rentals", boasts the company's website.

From BBC

When we first interviewed him in the autumn of 2023, his loft space was a building site with exposed beams and tarpaulin covering roof tiles.

From BBC

"Fear is natural," Brahim had told me, looking up at the ridge where tarpaulin flapped at the settlers' lookout post in front of a few caravans and makeshift homes.

From BBC

Some tore down the tarpaulin sheets covering the spot and threatened an indefinite hunger strike.

From BBC