CANVAS (OF. eaneras, Sled. Lat. cannera shim, from Lat. cannabis, hemp). A strong, coarse cloth made of cotton. flax, or hemp. Can vas is used (1) on board ship for sails, awnings, hatch-hoods, boat-covers, tarpaulins, etc. Flax canvas is used for the sails of large vessels. It is woven in cloths 24 inches in width and 40 yards long, and is of several weights, denoted by numbers from 1 to 9. The bean jest, which is called number 1, is used for storm-sails, courses (foresail and mainsail of square-rigged vessels), and topsails, but numbers 2 and 3 are also used for all of these except the storm sails. The lighter weights are used for jibs, upper staysails, topgallantsails, royals, etc. Cotton canvas is used for boat-sails, hammocks, etc. The term canvas is used in a figurative sense for the sails of a ship. mulct- canvas sig nifying under sail—i.e. under way, propelled by
sails. See SAIL.
(2) The canvas used by artists is commonly of linen, varying in density and thickness accord ing to the size of the painting to be made. This is stretched upon a wooden mortised frame, which is called a stretcher, in the four inside corners of which are slits for receiving triangular wooden wedges. These wedges are called keys, and after the canvas is stretched they may be driven in. in order to tighten the canvas itself. Certain sizes of canvas, being in greater request than oth ers, are kept ready stretched on frames. Those wised for portraits are known by the names of hit-eat, which measures •8 or 29 inches by 36: three-quarters, 25 by 30 inches; half length, 40 by 50: Bishop's half length, 44 or 45 by 56; Bishop's whole length, 55 by 94.