tarpaulin

American  

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

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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of tarpaulin

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

Example Sentences

At another settlement, the U.N. refugee agency has run out of blankets, tarpaulins and sleeping mats, forcing refugees to sleep in the open.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From Literature

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From BBC