I. noun
also can·vass ˈkanvəs, -ˈaa-
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English canevas, from Old North French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin cannabaceus hempen, from Latin cannabis hemp, from Greek kannabis — more at hemp
1. : a firm closely woven cloth of plain weave made in various weights usually of linen, hemp, or cotton and used especially for clothing, sails, tarpaulins, and awnings — compare duck IV
2. : a set of sails : sail
sailing under full canvas
under light canvas
3. : a piece of canvas used for a particular purpose: as
a. : a covering over the end of a racing boat to keep out water
b. : apron 4a
4. : a tent or a group of tents:
a. : circus , carnival
the lure of the canvas
b. : a military or camping tent
sleeping under canvas
5.
a.
(1) : a cloth surface prepared to receive an oil painting
(2) : the painting on such a surface
b. : the background, setting, or scope of an historical or fictional account or narrative
the crowded canvas of history
c. : picture 9a
6. : a stiff material with coarse even meshes woven usually of hard-twisted yarns in a plain weave often with drawable threads for tapestry and embroidery
7. : a linen or hair-and-wool canvas with a soft or sized finish used as an interlining or foundation to give body to some part of a garment, especially a coat front
8. : the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring
•
- on the canvas
II. transitive verb
( canvased or canvassed ; canvased or canvassed ; canvasing or canvassing ; canvases or canvasses )
: to cover, line, or furnish with canvas
the door had been nailed up and canvased over — Charles Dickens
III.
variant of canvass