Definition of Tarpaulin

1. Noun. Waterproofed canvas.

Exact synonyms: Tarp
Generic synonyms: Canvas, Canvass

Definition of Tarpaulin

1. n. A piece of canvas covered with tar or a waterproof composition, used for covering the hatches of a ship, hammocks, boats, etc.

Definition of Tarpaulin

1. Noun. A heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth, used as a cover. ¹

2. Noun. (countable slang archaic) A sailor. Often abbreviated to just tar. ¹

3. Noun. (uncountable obsolete) Any heavy, waterproof material used as a cover. ¹

4. Noun. (uncountable nautical obsolete) Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover. ¹

5. Noun. A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tarpaulin

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tarpaulin

tarocs
tarogato
tarok
taroks
taros
tarot
tarot card
tarotist
tarotists
tarots
tarp
tarpan
tarpans
tarpaper
tarpapers
tarpaulin (current term)
tarpaulined
tarpaulins
tarped
tarping
tarpit
tarpits
tarpon
tarpons
tarpot
tarpots
tarps
tarpum
tarpums
tarrace

Literary usage of Tarpaulin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"tarpaulin, originally a broad piece of canvas, thoroughly coated with tar, and used to cover the hatchways of a ship at sea, to prevent the penetration of ..."

2. The Justice of the Peace, and Parish Officer by Richard Burn (1820)
"... a salt-petre bag : And every carriage in whicb gunpowder shall be conveyed by land shall have a complete covering of wood, painted cloth, tarpaulin, ..."

3. The Island of Nantucket: What it was and what it is : Being a Complete Index by Edward K. Godfrey (1882)
"... marauding French robbed his house and obliged him to pilot their vessel around the shoals . nd Great Point, as far as tarpaulin Cove, but gives no date. ..."

4. A Tale of Two Oceans: A New Story by an Old Californian : an Account of a by Ezekiel I. Barra (1893)
"... a tarpaulin about twelve feet square to the lee main shrouds, after dark, and hanging a lighted lantern on the inboard side of it. ..."

5. Anecdotes, Poetry, and Incidents of the War: North and South : 1860-1865 by Frank Moore (1866)
"The harmless bit of wood was then turned towards the rascals, and the tarpaulin was about to be removed, when the doughty warriors took to their heels, ..."

6. Anecdotes, Poetry, and Incidents of the War: North and South: 1860-1865 edited by Frank Moore (1882)
"The harmless hit of wood was then turned towards the rascals, and the tarpaulin was about to be removed, when the doughty warriors took to their heels, ..."

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