calico

[kal-i-koh]

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.

adjective

1. made of calico.

2. resembling printed calico; spotted or mottled.

calico

/ ˈkælɪˌkəʊ /

noun

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

2. a coarse printed cotton fabric

3. (modifier) made of calico

Word History and Origins

Origin of calico¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of calico¹

C16: based on Calicut, town in India

Example Sentences

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."

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

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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.

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

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The curious calico and her orange tomcat friend, Monu, had recently been sterilized and returned to the market.

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Related Words

• cotton 
• goods 
• material 
• stuff