A protective cloth or covering laid on the ground or over furniture to catch paint drips and spills during painting or construction work.
Compound word from 'drop' (something falling) plus 'cloth' (fabric). This is a modern compound, likely from the 20th century American English, combining practical elements.
The dropcloth is such a simple invention but so brilliant—it's basically just fabric designed to catch the inevitable mistakes that happen when you paint, making cleanup infinitely easier!
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