different between burlap vs gunny

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain. Attested since about 1695 in the spelling bore-lap, borelapp. Likely from burel (“a coarse woollen cloth”) +? lap (“flap of a garment”), where the first element is from Middle English burel, borel. Others feel that "its character and time of appearance makes a Dutch origin very likely" (and the earliest references as to its importation from the Netherlands); the NED suggests derivation from Dutch boenlap (“coarse, rubbing linen or cloth”) with the first element perhaps confused with boer; Bense instead suggests derivation from an unattested Dutch *boerenlap, where *boeren supposedly has an extended sense of "coarse" as in Dutch boerenkost (“coarse, heavy food as is eaten by farmers”) and boerengoed (from Dutch boer (“farmer, peasant”); compare English boor), though this word is not attested.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?b?læp/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b??læp/

Noun

burlap (countable and uncountable, plural burlaps)

1. (US) A very strong, coarse cloth, made from jute, flax, or hemp, and used to make sacks, etc.

   Synonyms: (UK) hessian, (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) crocus

Translations

Verb

burlap (third-person singular simple present burlaps, present participle burlapping, simple past and past participle burlapped)

1. (transitive) To wrap or cover in burlap.

See also

• sackcloth

References

English

Etymology 1

From Hindi and Marathi ??? (gan?) or ??? (gon), from Sanskrit, ultimately of Dravidian origin.

Noun

gunny (usually uncountable, plural gunnies)

1. (uncountable) A coarse heavy fabric made of jute or hemp.
   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 102:

     Provisions were ferried by camel in stout sacks of gunny with blocks of ice packed round them; a herculean task.

2. (countable) A gunny sack.

Derived terms

• gunnybag
• gunnycloth

Translations

Etymology 2

A shortening of gunnery sergeant

Noun

gunny (plural gunnies)

1. (countable, informal) A gunnery sergeant.

Anagrams

• Guynn