Tarpaulin

Quick meaning: Tarpaulin is a noun meaning (uncountable, nautical, archaic) Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.

Meaning

(uncountable, nautical, archaic) Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.

More Meanings

1. (countable, slang, archaic) A sailor.
2. To cover with a tarpaulin.
3. (countable) A heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth or plastic sheet, used as a cover or blanket (often as weatherproofing, or to keep loose cargo from blowing off a lorry).
4. (archaic) A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others.

Example Sentences

Near-synonym: rain hat

Throw a tarpaulin over that woodpile before it gets wet.

"Cover it up! Don't touch it!" said the Professor. So we tarpaulined it according to his instructions, and there it lies.

There were sailors asleep in the fantastic fashion of the British tarpaulin — snoring heavily as they lay on the bare deck, despite the din about them.

Word Forms

• tarpaulins
• tarpaulining
• tarpaulined

Synonyms for tarpaulin

Depending on context, synonyms include tar, tarp.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include tarp, sheet, floor, sheeting, cover, seam.

Related Dictionary Tools