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
Herman Melville2
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
Charles DickensThe Englishman replied, like a rough tarpaulin, "They might starve; they should not plant nor build in that place." Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Most had camping chairs and some had a tarpaulin to sit under. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 By the end, Tillerson was like a dead animal someone needed to pull a tarpaulin over. New York Times, 17 Aug. 2022 Ortiz, as a businessman should, is focusing on the good, and employing a Conig’s Corner-like black tarpaulin over the latter. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 The family strung a tarpaulin across the terrace and moved upstairs. Sadiq Naqvi, Washington Post, 27 June 2022 Down in Kultorvet, meanwhile, the owner of Peter’s Polser was carefully placing a tarpaulin over his wagon’s motor. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 For now, the only thing on the site apart from the ruins of an old cottage is a small sign planted out in the bog, covered in a flapping blue tarpaulin, waiting to be unveiled. James Hookway, WSJ, 22 Jan. 2022 At night in the refugee camps, with only a thin tarpaulin wall as protection, Mohammed waits for the men to come and kill him. New York Times, 14 Nov. 2021 Its large and well-protected interior can hold enough gear for a weekend of activity and keep everything protected thanks to its weather-resistant tarpaulin exterior. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 7 Nov. 2021 See More
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 By the end, Tillerson was like a dead animal someone needed to pull a tarpaulin over. New York Times, 17 Aug. 2022 Ortiz, as a businessman should, is focusing on the good, and employing a Conig’s Corner-like black tarpaulin over the latter. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 The family strung a tarpaulin across the terrace and moved upstairs. Sadiq Naqvi, Washington Post, 27 June 2022 Down in Kultorvet, meanwhile, the owner of Peter’s Polser was carefully placing a tarpaulin over his wagon’s motor. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 For now, the only thing on the site apart from the ruins of an old cottage is a small sign planted out in the bog, covered in a flapping blue tarpaulin, waiting to be unveiled. James Hookway, WSJ, 22 Jan. 2022 At night in the refugee camps, with only a thin tarpaulin wall as protection, Mohammed waits for the men to come and kill him. New York Times, 14 Nov. 2021 Its large and well-protected interior can hold enough gear for a weekend of activity and keep everything protected thanks to its weather-resistant tarpaulin exterior. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 7 Nov. 2021 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-lən
: a sheet of waterproof canvas