calico

noun

cal·​i·​co ˈka-li-ˌkō 

plural calicoes or calicos

1

a

: cotton cloth imported from India

b

British : a plain white cotton fabric that is heavier than muslin

c

: any of various cheap cotton fabrics with figured patterns

2

: a blotched or spotted animal

especially : one that is predominantly white with red and black patches

calico adjective

Examples of calico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new findings also help explain why calicos and tortoiseshells—which have patterns with a mixture of colors, including orange—are almost always female. —Gayoung Lee, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024

The products — debuting October 14 — all feature a purple striped and purple calico fabric that Gilbert created as a nod to the official color for pancreatic cancer awareness. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024

Meet Zia, my dilute calico who enjoys chasing droplets of water in the tub and lying flat on her back, like a fluffy rug in a log cabin. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024

Seacoast Science Center is now home to lobsters of several different variations of orange, blue, calico, and cotton candy for public viewing and educational purposes. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Calicut, India

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing calico

• calico bass
• calico bush

Kids Definition

calico

noun

cal·​i·​co ˈkal-i-ˌkō 

plural calicoes or calicos

1

: cotton cloth especially with a colored pattern printed on one side

2

: a blotched or spotted animal

a calico cat

calico adjective

Etymology

named for Calicut, a city in India, which exported such cloth