Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tarpaulin” come from?

Tarpaulin derives from English tar and English appal, tracing through Latin ad- and Latin palus, with uncertain ultimate origins in Proto-Indo-European and Proto-Semitic roots.

tarpaulin (English): A tarp, a heavy, waterproof sheet of material,...

Definitions

  1. A tarp, a heavy, waterproof sheet of material,...

Ancestry of “tarpaulin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpallSenses relating to cloth; Senses relating to...
2EnglishappalAlternative spelling of appall
3Hungarianappapp, application
4EnglishapplicationThe act of applying or laying on, in a literal...
5Middle Englishapplicacioun—
6Old Frenchaplicacionapplication
7Latinapplicātiō—
8Latin-tiō—
9Latindissertātiō—
10Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
11Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
12Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
13Latincalceusshoe
14Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
15Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “tarpaulin”

  • tarpaulined
  • paulin
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →