tabby

¹

[ tab-ee ]

noun

plural tabbies.

1. a cat with a striped or brindled coat.
2. a domestic cat, especially a female one.
3. a spinster.
4. a spiteful female gossip or tattler.
5. plain weave.
6. a watered silk fabric, or any other watered material, as moreen.

adjective

1. striped or brindled.
2. made of or resembling tabby.

verb (used with object)

tabbied, tabbying.

1. to give a wavy or watered appearance to, as silk.

tabby

²

[ tab-ee ]

noun

1. (in the southeastern United States) a building material composed of ground oyster shells, lime, and sand, mixed with salt water.

tabby

¹

/ ˈtæbɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of cats) brindled with dark stripes or wavy markings on a lighter background
2. having a wavy or striped pattern, particularly in colours of grey and brown

noun

1. a tabby cat
2. any female domestic cat
3. informal.
   a gossiping old woman
4. slang.
   any girl or woman

tabby

²

/ ˈtæbɪ /

noun

1. a fabric with a watered pattern, esp silk or taffeta

Word History and Origins

Origin of tabby¹

First recorded in 1630–40; back formation from French tabis (taken as plural), Middle French (a)tabis “silk cloth,” from Medieval Latin attābi, from Arabic ʿattābī, derivative of (al) ʿAttābīyah, quarter of Baghdad where the silk was first made, literally, “the quarter of (Prince) ʿAttāb”

Origin of tabby²

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Gullah tabi, from a West African language

Word History and Origins

Origin of tabby¹

C17: from Tabby , pet form of the girl's name Tabitha , probably influenced by tabby ¹

Origin of tabby²

C17: from Old French tabis silk cloth, from Arabic al-`attabiya, literally: the quarter of (Prince) `Attab, the part of Baghdad where the fabric was first made

Example Sentences

Her mother filled out the Virginia shelter's online application for a supposedly bonded pair: a 1 1/2-year-old gray tabby and 2 1/2-year-old calico.

From Salon

Outside, a bowl of milk sat in the center of the market square, attracting a thirsty tabby.

From Salon

I foster cats and I’m actually fostering two sister tabbies right now — Lucy and Ethel — and the CatCafe Lounge has taken probably 12 of the cats I’ve fostered and gotten them adopted.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s not the first time California residents have mistaken a tame tabby for a ferocious wildcat.

From Los Angeles Times

The grouchy tabby gets another big-screen adaptation, this time following an unexpected reunion with his father.

From New York Times