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Sailcloth vs Tarpaulin - What's the difference?

sailcloth | tarpaulin |

As nouns the difference between sailcloth and tarpaulin

is that sailcloth is a strong, durable fabric suitable for making sails for ships or boats while tarpaulin is (countable) a heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth, used as a cover.

sailcloth

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A strong, durable fabric suitable for making sails for ships or boats.
  • Usage notes

    * This term can be used even when the fabric is used for other purposes.

    tarpaulin

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (countable) A heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth, used as a cover.
  • Throw a tarpaulin over that woodpile before it gets wet.
  • (countable, slang, archaic) A sailor. Often abbreviated to just tar.
  • (uncountable, obsolete) Any heavy, waterproof material used as a cover.
  • (uncountable, nautical, obsolete) Canvas waterproofed with tar, used as a cover.
  • A hat made of, or covered with, painted or tarred cloth, worn by sailors and others.
  • Usage notes

    * In the US, tarp is more commonly used than tarpaulin, even in print.

    Derived terms

    * tarp

    See also

    * pall