# Do \*sheets of fabric pulled off to reveal something\* actually exist/have a name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186 "2019-04-28T19:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/1 "2019-04-28T19:41:00Z")
Sometimes seen on TV or in a movie, such as [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ-8IuUkJJc&feature=youtu.be&t=59), someone will pull off, in one swift motion, a thin sheet of fabric that’s covering something, thus revealing it for display. Do these bits of fabric actually exist for this purpose? Do they have a name? I couldn’t find anything on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/2 "2019-04-28T19:55:35Z")
A veil? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/3 "2019-04-28T20:00:04Z")
Sometimes called _silks_. Buy some [here](https://themagicwarehouse.com/asilk/magicicians-silks.html&pn=1). ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/4 "2019-04-28T20:05:20Z")
A point not made above is that the primary characteristic is the absence of a seam on the edge to be drawn under the objects on the table. Smoothness is a factor of course, and limited stretch along the direction of pull. Tris * * * “Don’t try this at home.” ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/5 "2019-04-28T20:12:26Z")
Also known as [poly silks or china silks](https://www.rosebrand.com/subcategory162/fabric-by-type-silk.aspx) in the theater biz mc ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/6 "2019-04-28T20:57:46Z")
Thanks, it looks like silks would do the trick. I was looking for a lightweight sheet to cover something, when not in use, that’s hard to dust . The dust sheets I’ve seen have been thick and coarse, or plastic, and more purposed towards covering floors and furniture when decorating. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/7 "2019-04-28T21:22:36Z")
If that’s what you want, we’ve used old bedsheets for such things. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/8 "2019-04-28T21:27:21Z")
Creating museum-grade dust covers — [Creating Dust Covers For Large Objects | Storage Techniques for Art Science & History Collections](http://stashc.com/the-publication/covers/object-covers/creating-dust-covers-for-large-objects/) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/9 "2019-04-28T23:11:31Z")
Drape. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/10 "2019-04-29T00:02:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If that’s what you want, we’ve used old bedsheets for such things. Yeah, just go the thrift store and buy a sheet for a buck. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/11 "2019-04-29T00:55:24Z")
In fancy lingo, what you describe is sometimes called a shroud ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/12 "2019-04-29T22:36:17Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > In fancy lingo, what you describe is sometimes called a shroud +1. That’s the word I was about to suggest. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/13 "2019-04-29T22:45:29Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > In fancy lingo, what you describe is sometimes called a shroud I searched for a shroud to buy, but came back with [this](https://www.amazon.com/SHROUD-TURIN-Beautifully-Printed-Canvas/dp/B06ZYRW9Z4). ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186/14 "2019-04-30T00:03:40Z")
well yes, that is also a shroud.