canvas
UK: ˈkænvəs | US: ˈkænvəs
n. a strong, coarse unbleached cloth used for making sails, tents, or as a surface for oil painting
n. the fabric or material used in painting
n. a blank background for digital design or drafting
vt. to cover or furnish with canvas
vt. to solicit votes, opinions, or support
canvas = can<reed> + vas<fabric>
- can<reed>: Derived from Latin cannabis (hemp), referencing the plant fibers originally used to make the cloth.
- vas<fabric>: From Latin vannus (winnowing basket) or Vulgar Latin vannapum, evolving to mean woven material.
Etymology Origin:
The word canvas traces back to the Latin cannabis, highlighting its early use as hemp-based cloth for sails and tents. Over time, vas (or its variants) generalized to mean woven fabric, merging with can- to form canvas. The term later expanded metaphorically to painting surfaces and campaigning (from the idea of "covering ground").
The artist stretched the canvas tightly over the wooden frame.
Sailors repaired the torn canvas of their boat before the storm.
She used digital canvas tools to sketch her design.
Volunteers canvassed the neighborhood for donations.
The tent’s canvas walls blocked the wind effectively.