burlap

noun

bur·​lap ˈbər-ˌlap How to pronounce burlap (audio)
1
: a coarse heavy plain-woven fabric usually of jute or hemp used for bagging and wrapping and in furniture and linoleum manufacture
2
: a lightweight material resembling burlap used in interior decoration or for clothing

Examples of burlap in a Sentence

The bag is made of burlap.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Install Barriers Many gardeners wrap cold-sensitive shrubs with burlap in fall to prevent winter damage. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2025 Trees must be wrapped in burlap to catch larvae, which are then supposed to be drowned in soapy water or stuffed in the freezer — but the real solution is to simply wait for natural controls, like E. maimaiga, to fight them off, Dwyer explained. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025 Make sure to check your pots regularly and water them when the soil dries. Insulate containers before a hard freeze by wrapping layers of burlap, bubble wrap, or a blanket around the pots. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025 Consider Farmgirl Flowers for them—an abundant bouquet will arrive in biodegradable burlap pouches. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for burlap 

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burlap was circa 1696

Dictionary Entries Near burlap

Cite this Entry

“Burlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burlap. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

burlap

noun
bur·​lap ˈbər-ˌlap How to pronounce burlap (audio)
: a rough fabric made usually from jute or hemp and used mostly for bags and wrappings

More from Merriam-Webster on burlap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!