tarpaulin

noun

tar·​pau·​lin tär-ˈpȯ-lən  ˈtär-pə-lən 

 nonstandard  tär-ˈpōl-yən

plural tarpaulins

1

: a piece of material used especially for protecting exposed objects or areas : tarp

The hatchways of some armed vessels are but poorly secured in bad weather. … They were merely spread over with an old tarpaulin, cracked and rent in every direction.

—Herman Melville

2

dated : sailor

"What does this here blessed tarpaulin go and do," said Mr. Peggotty, with his face one high noon of enjoyment, "but he loses that there art of his to our little Em'ly."

—Charles Dickens

The Englishman replied, like a rough tarpaulin, "They might starve; they should not plant nor build in that place."

—Daniel Defoe

Examples of tarpaulin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Parade rehearsals have shown what are almost certainly new types of hypersonic missile systems and huge undersea drones among other weaponry, masked by tarpaulins and fabric coverings. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025

The crew slept on cots under tarpaulins each night. —Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

Ever since November, the Reyes family has lived here, beneath tarpaulin and nipa palm, wedged between crashing waves and a coastal highway in northeastern Luzon. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025

Images supplied to Newsweek by the U.S. commercial satellite firm Planet showed much of the ship—apparently partially submerged—covered in blue tarpaulins in an apparent attempt to conceal damage to the vessel's hull. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from tar entry 1 + -palling, -pauling (from pall)

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tarpaulin

• befallen
• crestfallen
• cauline
• fallen
• paulin
• pollen

Kids Definition

tarpaulin

noun

tar·​pau·​lin tär-ˈpȯ-lən  ˈtär-pə- 

: a piece of material (as waterproof canvas) used for protecting exposed objects