What does burlap mean?
Burlap is a coarse, loosely woven fabric traditionally made from the fibers of the jute plant, though hemp and flax are also used. Strong, inexpensive, and breathable, it has long served practical purposes: grain and coffee sacks, root balls of transplanted trees, upholstery backing, and sandbags. In contemporary usage it also appears widely in crafts and home décor, where its rough texture and natural tan color lend a rustic, farmhouse aesthetic. The word is chiefly North American — British speakers more commonly say 'hessian', a name borrowed from the coarse cloth worn by Hessian soldiers. Burlap's connotations range from humble and utilitarian to charmingly handmade, which makes it a versatile word whether describing farm work or wedding décor. Its plural, burlaps, refers simply to multiple pieces or bags of the material.
nounA coarse woven fabric made from jute, hemp, or flax fibers, used chiefly for sacks, upholstery backing, and rustic decoration.
- Coarse woven fabric of jute, hemp, or flax, used for sacks, wrapping, and upholstery backing.
"The seedlings arrived wrapped in burlap to protect their roots during transport."
"She lined the planter with burlap before filling it with soil."
"Grain was once shipped across the country in heavy burlap sacks."
Rarely needed, as burlap usually functions as an uncountable material noun. The plural appears mainly when counting individual sacks or pieces of cloth.
"He stacked a dozen burlaps of feed grain in the barn."
Americans call it burlap, but the British call it hessian — named after the uniform cloth of Hessian soldiers from Germany.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burlap
The word burlap appeared in English in the late 17th century, but its precise origin remains uncertain; lexicographers have proposed links to earlier words for coarse cloth without reaching a consensus. It is the standard North American term for what British English calls hessian, after the German Hessian troops whose uniforms were made of the fabric. Because its derivation is obscure, no firm cognates in other languages can be confidently identified.
How burlap is actually used
Primarily North American usage; speakers of British English typically say 'hessian'. Often carries rustic, earthy, or craft-related connotations in modern decorative contexts, and can sound old-fashioned when referring to industrial sacking.
Easily confused with burlap
A 'burl' is a hard, knotty growth on a tree prized by woodworkers, whereas 'burlap' is the coarse jute fabric — the words share letters but have entirely unrelated meanings.