Other forms: tarps
A tarp is a plain waterproof sheet rigged as a shelter. Rig a tarp, under the tarp, a tarp shelter.
Camping under one rather than in a tent is lighter and more exposed, and rigging it well is a skill of its own — the ridge line and the angle decide whether rain runs off or pools. Tarps also cover loads, woodpiles and cricket pitches. The word is short for tarpaulin, which was tar plus palling, a covering — the original ones were tarred canvas.
1nountarpA plain waterproof sheet rigged as a shelter.
“We stretched a tarp between two trees to keep the rain off our tent.”
tarp is a waterproof sheet.
Tarp is a clipping of tarpaulin, which is probably tar plus palling, a covering. The original sheets really were canvas treated with tar.
a clipping of tarpaulin.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA