calico

American  

[kal-i-koh] / ˈkæl ɪˌkoʊ /

noun

plural

calicoes, calicos

1. a plain-woven cotton cloth printed with a figured pattern, usually on one side.

2. British. plain white cotton cloth.

3. an animal having a spotted or particolored coat.

4. Obsolete. a figured cotton cloth from India.

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adjective

1. made of calico.

2. resembling printed calico; spotted or mottled.

calico British  

/ ˈkælɪˌkəʊ /

noun

1. a white or unbleached cotton fabric with no printed design

2. a coarse printed cotton fabric

3. (modifier) made of calico

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Etymology

Origin of calico

1495–1505; short for Calico cloth, variant of Calicut cloth, named after city in India which originally exported it

Example Sentences

It’s about the size of a ruler and covered in a tapestry of calico fur.

From Literature

One contributor wrote: "We are siblings in the first and third grades of elementary school. We donated with our pocket money. Use it for research on calico cats."

From BBC

"Here's my offering - the shorthair is a boy named Bob and the calico is a girl named Marley."

From BBC

At the time of this story's publication, both are still at the shelter waiting to be adopted . . . although the calico is currently advertised as bonded with a different gray tabby.

From Salon

Most orange cats are boys, a quirk of feline genetics that also explains why almost all calicos and tortoiseshells are girls.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• cotton
• goods
• material
• stuff