bucksail, noun

Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Calque formed on Afrikaans bokseil, bok body of wagon + seil canvas.
A large tarpaulin or canvas used as a covering for a wagon or its load, as a temporary shelter, or as protection for a motor vehicle, etc. Also attributive. See also sail.
1882 S. Heckford Lady Trader in Tvl 11The one was an open buck-waggon..with a tarpaulin, or what is here called ‘a buck-sail,’ thrown over it to protect the goods.
1882 C.L. Norris-Newman With Boers in Tvl 188Most of the men lived in or under the waggons, covered with large buck-sails, or else in temporary sheds made with the same.
1897 R.S.S. Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign 436A buck-sail stretched over the tilts of two [wagons] gave a shady room between, in which we sheltered from the midday heat.
1914 S.P. Hyatt Old Transport Rd 134That little Scotch cart of ours..would carry all the kit and stores for quite a long expedition; with a small bucksail over it, we could easily rig up a shelter in case of rain.
1929 J.G. Van Alphen Jan Venter 151A huge buck-sail was stretched against the side of the waggon, forming room shelter on the east side.
1937 H. Klein Stage Coach Dust 140A hasty shelter was rigged up under a buck-sail thrown across the stranded transport wagon.
1940 F.B. Young City of Gold 365Yankee Moore, whose store — a bucksail tent furnished with a counter of empty Rynbende gin-cases was..the busiest commercial establishment at de Kaap.
1969 F. Goldie River of Gold 46The couples began to crowd onto the bucksail dance floor.
1979 Farmer’s Weekly 21 Mar. 126Sails & Tents. Brand new Heavy duty Bucksail, 7 m x 9 m.
1982 Farmer’s Weekly 5 Nov. 147 (advt)(a) Bucksails: Available in green only. Our sail material is ideal for hard work. (b) Vinyl: Available in all colours. Ideal for lorries, transport packing and hard work.
A large tarpaulin or canvas used as a covering for a wagon or its load, as a temporary shelter, or as protection for a motor vehicle, etc. Also attributive.
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Afrikaans
buck-rail, nounn.buck-wagon, nounn.
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