canvass
vb
1 to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc., from
2 to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc.), esp. by conducting a survey
3 to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp. by discussion or debate
4 (Chiefly U.S.) to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity
n
5 a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc.
6 close inspection; scrutiny
(C16: probably from obsolete sense of canvas (to toss someone in a canvas sheet, hence, to harass, criticize); the development of current senses is unexplained)
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canvasser n
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canvassing n