See Also: calico(dictionary)
calico cat(encyclopedia)
calico(dictionary)

calico (iou)



calico noun & adjective. Orig. also calicut. M16.
[Alt. of Calicut, a town in India.]
A. noun. Pl. -oes, -os.
a. Orig. calico cloth. Cotton cloth, orig. as imported from the East; fabric resembling this. Now esp. (a) plain white unprinted bleached or unbleached cotton cloth; (b) N. Amer. printed cotton cloth. M16.
b. A piece or example of such cloth. L16.
A piebald horse. US. M19.
Comb.: calico-bush N. Amer. the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia; calico-printer, calico-printing (a person engaged in) the production of printed patterns on calico.
b. adjective.
Of calico. L16.
Suggestive of printed calico; multicoloured; piebald. N. Amer. E19.
calico cat a cat with black, ginger, and white patches.