noun / adjective
calico
KAL-ih-koh/ˈkælɪkəʊ/
A cat with patches of white, black, and orange, or this coloring.
The calico cat has white, black, and orange patches.
Etymology
Calicut gave its name to cotton cloth obtained there. When calico came to mean printed cotton, the name spread to animals whose patchy coloring resembled the fabric.
More examples
- Patches of orange and black marked the calico’s white coat.
- She adopted a small calico from the shelter.
- The kitten had distinctive calico coloring.
Forms
calico · calicos · calicoes
Similar words
- tortoiseshell
- Tortoiseshell cats have mottled black and orange coats; calicos also have substantial white patches.
- tabby
- Tabby describes a striped or spotted coat pattern, rather than the calico combination of colors.