tarpaulin

noun

tar·​pau·​lin tär-ˈpȯ-lən 

ˈtär-pə-;

 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

After powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkey, Eylem Sahutoglu and her family endured two weeks of freezing nights under a blue tarpaulin. —Nimet Kirac, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2023

This is a multi-purpose bucket that is made from premium 500D tarpaulin and double-stitched seams to keep working for a long time. —Chris Hachey, BGR, 18 Mar. 2021

With their homes damaged, the family is living together under a tarpaulin. —Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2023

Then the rain comes, slow at first, then hard enough to have the tarpaulin rolled back into place. —Debbi Snook, cleveland, 3 Feb. 2023

The people of the village gathered as the sacks were laid out on a blue tarpaulin. —Roger Cohen Mauricio Lima, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2022

The inside is lined with water-resistant tarpaulin and has a padded lining to protect all of your gear. —Déjà Leonard, Popular Mechanics, 17 Jan. 2023

One day my horse was much frightened at a drilling machine covered by a tarpaulin and lying on an open field. —Kat Mcgowan, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2012

Fully covered in blue tarpaulin, the statue is supposed to represent the Common Man. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Nov. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tarpaulin

noun

tar·​pau·​lin tär-ˈpȯ-lən  ˈtär-pə- 

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