tapa

ta·pa ¹

 (tä′pə, tăp′ə)

n.

1. The inner bark of the paper mulberry.

2. A paperlike cloth made in the South Pacific islands by pounding this bark or similar bark.

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[Marquesan and Tahitian; akin to Hawaiian kapa.]

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ta·pa ²

 (tä′pä)

n. pl. ta·pas (-päs, -päz)

Any of various small, savory Spanish dishes, often served as a snack or with other tapas as a meal.

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[Spanish, lid, tapa (tapas perhaps being so called because they originally consisted of slices of bread with sausage and similar items placed like lids upon glasses of wine to stimulate thirst and keep out fruit flies), from Old Spanish, lid (of Germanic originakin to English tap) and perhaps also partly from early modern Spanish tapa, entrepôt for provisioning soldiers (Hispanicization, influenced by tapa, lid, of Middle French étape, entrepôt, from Old French estaple; see staple¹).]

tapa

(ˈtɑːpə)

n

1. (Plants) the inner bark of the paper mulberry

2. (Textiles) a paper-like cloth made from this in the Pacific islands

[C19: from Marquesan and Tahitian]

ta•pa¹

(ˈtɑ pɑ)

n.

Often, tapas. (esp. in Spain) a snack or appetizer, typically served with wine or beer.

[1950–55; < Sp: literally, cover, lid]

ta•pa²

(ˈtɑ pə, ˈtæp ə)

n.

1. the bark of the paper mulberry.

2. Also called ta′pa cloth`. a cloth of the Pacific islands made by pounding this or similar barks flat and thin, used for garments and floor covering.

[1815–25; < Polynesian]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tapa - the thin fibrous bark of the paper mulberry and Pipturus albidus tapa bark, tappa, tappa bark bark - tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
	2.	tapa - a paperlike cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark tappa cloth, fabric, textile, material - artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent"; "woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material for a dress"