Encyclopædia Britannica, First Edition/Canvas

CANVAS, in commerce, a very clear unbleached cloth of hemp, or flax, wove very regularly in little squares. It is used for working tapestry with the needle, by passing the threads of gold, silver, silk, or wool, through the intervals or squares.

Canvas is also a coarse cloth of hemp, unbleached, somewhat clear, which serves to cover womens stays, also to stiffen mens cloaths, and to make some other of their wearing-apparel, &c.

Canvas is also a very coarse cloth made of hemp, unbleached, serving to make towels, and answering other domestic purposes. It is also used to make sails for shipping, &c.

Canvas is used among the French, for the model and first words, where an air or piece of music is composed, and given to a poet to regulate and finish.