tarpaulin

views updated Jun 11 2018

tar·pau·lin / tärˈpôlən; ˈtärpə-/ • n. 1. heavy-duty waterproof cloth, originally of tarred canvas. ∎  a sheet or covering of this.2. hist. a sailor's tarred or oilskin hat. ∎  archaic a sailor.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

tarpaulin

views updated May 29 2018

tarpaulin (sheet of) tarred canvas XVII (-ing); nickname for a sailor XVII († also tarpaulian; cf. TAR2). Presumed to be f. TAR1 + PALL1 + -ING1.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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