Things they never told you in Girl Guide camp

If you're camping over the long weekend, you're probably grateful your tent is nylon rather than heavy canvas as they used to be. Besides, canvas (you'll be surprised to learn) is related to marijuana! The name derives from the Latin cannabis, because canvas was originally made from hemp. And why is “canvass” used for conducting a survey or door-to-door selling? In the 1500s, people were tossed about in canvases either for fun or as punishment (I'm not making this up). From there it was a short step for “canvassing” to mean the tossing about of an idea: soliciting opinions... or sales.

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