burlap

noun

bur·​lap ˈbər-ˌlap 

1

: a coarse heavy plain-woven fabric usually of jute or hemp used for bagging and wrapping and in furniture and linoleum manufacture

2

: a lightweight material resembling burlap used in interior decoration or for clothing

Examples of burlap in a Sentence

The bag is made of burlap.

Recent Examples on the Web

My preferred approach is to gently place the root ball in the center of the hole, backfill about a third of the way up, and as long as the root ball is solid, remove the upper half to two thirds of the burlap, twine and wire basket. — Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2026

To winterize hydrangeas, wrap them in burlap or make a wire surround and stuff the inside with straw or another insulating material. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Sep. 2026

One jumper is famous for having smothered miles of flames with his jacket; in Alaska, jumpers have used spruce boughs and burlap bags filled with moss. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

On the flip side, using burlap on the walls can be an easy, affordable way to create a textured effect. — Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for burlap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap
• mayhap

Kids Definition

burlap

noun

bur·​lap ˈbər-ˌlap 

: a rough fabric made usually from jute or hemp and used mostly for bags and wrappings