calico

See also: calicò

English
Calico used as a bookbinding material
Calico cat

Etymology

From Calicut, in India, from where the cloth was originally exported, from Malayalam കോഴിക്കോട് (kōḻikkōṭŭ, “Kozhikode”), from [script needed] (koyil, “palace”) + [script needed] (kota, “fortified palace”), with ‘y’ replaced by interchangeable ‘zh’.

Noun

calico (countable and uncountable, plural calicos or calicoes)

  1. (textiles) A kind of rough cloth made from unbleached and not fully processed cotton, often printed with a bright pattern.
  2. (countable, zoology) Ellipsis of calico cat; a cat with fur of the colors black, white and orange.

Translations

Adjective

calico

  1. Having a pattern of red and contrasting areas, resembling the color of calico cloth.
    Synonym: tortoiseshell
    The calico cat had distinctive red and dark markings.
    The calico-patterned tablecloths were supposed to make the restaurant look rustic; instead, they made it look run down.

Translations

Further reading

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