a method of attaching a canvas to a wall through adhesion, accomplished by coating the surface with white lead mixed with oil.
2.
a cloth backing for openwork, as on a piece of furniture.
Origin: 1880–85; < F, equiv. to maroufl(er) to attach canvas with strong glue (deriv. of maroufle strong glue, appar. a jocular use of maroufle rogue, akin to maraud;see maraud) + -age-age
[mahr-uh-flahzh, mahr-uh-flahzh] 
əˌflɑʒ