See Also: canvas(1)(dictionary)
canvas(2)(dictionary)
canvas(encyclopedia)
canvas(dictionary)
Canvas - Sailing(gambling)

canvas(1) (iou)



canvas noun1 & adjective. Also canvass. LME.
[Old Northern French canevas var. of Old French chanevaz from Proto-Romance, ult. from Latin CANNABIS.]
A. noun.
I. As a non-count noun.
A strong unbleached cloth of hemp, flax, or other coarse yarn, used for sails, tents, painting on, etc.; hence, sails collectively. LME.
under canvas (a) in a tent or tents; (b) with sails spread. VITRY canvas.
A type of this cloth woven in regular meshes and used as a basis for tapestry and embroidery. E17.
JAVA canvas. Penelope canvas: see PENELOPE 3.
II. As a count noun.
A piece of canvas. obsolete exc. as below. LME.
A piece of canvas primed for painting; a painting, esp. in oils. E18.
A covering over the ends of a racing-boat (orig. made of canvas); transf. the length between the bow and the first oarsman. L19.
win by a canvas, lose by a canvas, etc., (in boat-racing): by a narrow margin.
The floor of a boxing, wrestling, etc., ring, with a canvas covering. E20.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Made of canvas. LME.
Comb.: canvas-back (a) a back of a garment made of canvas; (b) a N. American diving duck, Aythya valisineria, so called from the white back of the male.