/tahr paw"lin, tahr"peuh lin/ , n.
1. a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax.
2. a hat, esp. a sailor's, made of or covered with such material.
3. Rare. a sailor.
[ 1595-1605; earlier tarpauling. See TAR 1 , PALL 1 , -ING 1 ]