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.
One jumper is famous for having smothered miles of flames with his jacket; in Alaska, jumpers have used spruce boughs and burlap bags filled with moss. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 On the flip side, using burlap on the walls can be an easy, affordable way to create a textured effect. — Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026 If weather is the issue, consider wrapping your boxwoods in burlap during winter to protect against harsh winds and cold temperatures. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026 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

Rhymes for burlap

See All Rhymes for burlap

Browse Nearby Words

burladero
burlap
burlapper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burlap. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All