burlap

IPA/ˈbɜːlæp/
KK[bˈɚlˌæp]IPA/ˈbɜːrlæp/

burlap — noun

1. a strong, rough cloth woven from natural plant fibres such as jute or hemp; it i

1.nounB1
Definition

a strong, rough cloth woven from natural plant fibres such as jute or hemp; it is commonly used for making sacks, bags, and heavy-duty coverings

Example

The farmer stored the potatoes in large burlap sacks in the cellar.

collocation: burlap sacks / burlap bags

Eve cut a strip of burlap to wrap around the potted plant before moving it.

used to wrap / cover objects

Common collocations
  • burlap sack
  • burlap bag
  • burlap fabric
  • burlap covering
  • burlap runner
  • strip of burlap
  • wrap in burlap
  • made of burlap
  • lined with burlap
Synonyms
  • hessian

    British English term for the same material; less common in North America

  • sackcloth

    a similar coarse fabric, but sackcloth often carries religious or penitential associations (burlap is more neutral and everyday)

  • jute

    refers to the plant fibre itself rather than the woven fabric; burlap is usually made from jute

Antonyms
  • silk

    smooth, lightweight, and expensive — the opposite of burlap's coarse, heavy, and practical texture

Usage Note

Burlap is an uncountable noun. It is the usual name for this fabric in North America; in British English the same material is often called hessian.

Common Mistakes

I bought a burlap for the project.
I bought some burlap for the project.
Burlap is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with the indefinite article 'a'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Burlap, hessian, sackcloth, jute, and canvas all refer to strong, coarse materials, but they differ in fibre, use, and regional preference. Burlap (North American term) and hessian (British term) describe the same woven fabric made from jute or hemp — a loose, rough-textured cloth used for sacks, wrapping, and rustic decorations. Sackcloth is a similar fabric but carries strong historical and religious associations with mourning or penitence; you would not call a modern shopping bag 'sackcloth'. Jute refers to the plant fibre itself, not the woven cloth. Canvas is much heavier and tighter-woven than burlap, typically made of cotton or linen, and used for tents, paintings, and sturdy bags. For everyday practical use (potato sacks, garden bags, craft projects), burlap or hessian is the right choice.

burlap ↗hessian ↗sackcloth ↗jute ↗canvas ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • burlap sack
  • burlap bag
  • burlap fabric
  • burlap runner
  • burlap covering

Phrases

  • strip of burlap
  • roll of burlap
  • made of burlap
  • lined with burlap

Prepositions

  • of burlap
  • in burlap
  • with burlap

Etymology

DutchEnglish

Burlap comes from the Dutch word 'boerenlap', which literally means 'peasant's cloth' — 'boer' meaning farmer and 'lap' meaning cloth or patch. The word entered English in the late 1600s, reflecting the fabric's practical, no-frills origins as a rough material used by farmers and labourers.

First known use

1696

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1