Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for CAN'VAS
CAN'TRED, or CAN'TREFCAN'VAS-CLIMB-ER
CAN'VAS, n. [Fr. canevas, canvas, and chanvre, hemp; Arm. canavas; Sp. cañamazo; Port. canamo; It. canavaccio, canvas, and canapa, hemp; D. kanefas, canvas, and hennep, hemp; G. kanefass, canvas, and hanf, hemp; Dan. canefas; L. cannabis, hemp; Gr. κανναβις; Ir. canbhas, canaib, hemp; Russ. kanephas. It is from the root of canna, cane; perhaps a diminutive.]
- A coarse cloth made of hemp, or flax, used for tents, sails of ships, painting, and other purposes.
- A clear, unbleached cloth, wove regularly in little squares, used for working tapestry with the needle.
- Among the French, the rough draught or model on which an air or piece of music is composed, and given to a poet to finish. The canvas of a song contains certain notes of the composer, to show the poet the measure of the verses he is to make.
- Among seamen, cloth in sails, or sails in general; as, to spread as much canvas as the ship will bear.
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