A tarpaulin or tarp is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with urethane, or made of plastics such as polyethelyne. In some places such as Australia, and in military slang, a tarp may be known as a hootchie. Tarpaulins often have reinforced grommets at the corners and along the sides to form attachment points for rope, allowing them to be tied down or suspended.

Inexpensive modern tarpaulins are made from woven polypropelyne; this material is so associated with tarpaulins that it has become colloquially known in some quarters as polytarp.

above info from wikipedia

As you will be able to see in future articles, there are many uses for tarps.  Some people will use a tarp to replace their tent when camping solo or in small groups.  In a survival situation, tarps are a great all purpose device that can provide rain shelter, act as a sleeping quarters, be configured into a storage location, provide warmth in the form of a blanket , can be used to collect water or snow and more.

People often use tarps to cover their big boys toys - cars, boats, atv's etc.  Knowing what types of knots to use with your tarps can be vert helpfull - there are a series of videos in a future article on this very topic.

Industrially, tarps are often seen on construction sites.  They are a great form of weather insurance when exposing the inner workings of a home to the elements.  You just never know when the weather will shift. In future articles, we will deal with the various attributes of different materials for tarps and some options for securing your tarp.