A heavy waterproof cloth or sheet, usually made from canvas or plastic, used to cover and protect things from rain and weather.
Short for 'tarpaulin,' which comes from 'tar' (the waterproofing substance) plus 'pauL' or 'paulin' (a light canvas). The shortened form 'tarp' became common in the 20th century as the item itself became ubiquitous.
Tarps are a perfect example of how necessity drives both innovation and language—sailors waterproofed canvas with tar centuries ago, and that simple idea became one of the most useful materials in modern life.
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