tabby
1[ tab-ee ]
/ ˈtæb i /
noun, plural tab·bies.
adjective
striped or brindled.
made of or resembling tabby.
verb (used with object), tab·bied, tab·by·ing.
to give a wavy or watered appearance to, as silk.
Words nearby tabby
tabaret, tabari, tabasco, tabbinet, tabbouleh, tabby, taber, tabernacle, tabernacle frame, tabernacle mirror, tabernacles
Origin of tabby
11630–40; back formation from French tabis (taken as plural), Middle French (a)tabis silk cloth < Medieval Latin attābi < Arabic ʿattābī, derivative of (al-)ʿAttābīyah, quarter of Baghdad where the silk was first made, literally, the quarter of (Prince) ʿAttāb
Definition for tabby (2 of 2)
tabby2
[ tab-ee ]
/ ˈtæb i /
noun
(in the southeastern U.S.) a building material composed of ground oyster shells, lime, and sand, mixed with salt water.
Origin of tabby
2An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; said to be of West African orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for tabby
British Dictionary definitions for tabby (1 of 2)
tabby1
/ (ˈtæbɪ) /
noun
a fabric with a watered pattern, esp silk or taffeta
Word Origin for tabby
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
British Dictionary definitions for tabby (2 of 2)
tabby2
/ (ˈtæbɪ) /
adjective
(esp of cats) brindled with dark stripes or wavy markings on a lighter background
having a wavy or striped pattern, particularly in colours of grey and brown
noun plural -bies
a tabby cat
any female domestic cat
British informal a gossiping old woman
Australian slang any girl or woman
Word Origin for tabby
C17: from Tabby, pet form of the girl's name Tabitha, probably influenced by tabby 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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