tarpaulin
noun
- cover made of a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /tɑˈpɔː.lɪn/ / /ˈtɑːɹpəlɪn/ / /tɑɹˈpɔ.lɪn/
noun
Etymology: From tar + pall (“heavy canvas”) + -ing. The sailor sense reflects that sailors of centuries past often wore garments made of tarred cloth (for weatherproofing).
- 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).
“Throw a tarpaulin over that woodpile before it gets wet.”
“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.”
- Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.
- A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others.
“Near-synonym: rain hat”
- A sailor.
verb
Etymology: From tar + pall (“heavy canvas”) + -ing. The sailor sense reflects that sailors of centuries past often wore garments made of tarred cloth (for weatherproofing).
- To cover with a tarpaulin.
“"Cover it up! Don't touch it!" said the Professor. So we tarpaulined it according to his instructions, and there it lies.”