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

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

Read more on 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."

Read more on BBC

"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.

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Science Magazine

Related Words

• cotton 
• goods 
• material 
• stuff