n. & v.
n. 1 a a strong coarse kind of cloth made from hemp or flax or other coarse yarn and used for sails and tents etc. and as a surface for oil-painting. b a piece of this. 2 a painting on canvas, esp. in oils. 3 an open kind of canvas used as a basis for tapestry and embroidery. 4 sl. the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring. 5 a racing-boat's covered end.
v.tr. (canvassed, canvassing; US canvased, canvasing) cover with canvas. by a canvas (in boat-racing) by a small margin (win by a canvas). canvas-back a wild duck Aythya valisineria, of n. America, with back feathers the colour of unbleached canvas. under canvas 1 in a tent or tents. 2 with sails spread.
[ ME & ONF canevas, ult. f. L cannabis hemp ]