A canovaccio is a vague plot outline used by commedia dell'arte players. It consisted only of a list of acts and scenes; the details were left to the improvisation of the actors. Actors in the commedia dell'Arte thus had to be endowed with an inventive mind since the success of the play depended largely on their creativity and above all on their lazzi (jokes and gags). The spotlight fell on the actors rather than on the play itself.

Canovaccio può avere diversi significati:

• "Canovaccio (teatro)" elementi di base della trama di un'opera
• "Canovaccio (cucina)" strofinaccio di cotone per asciugare le stoviglie