calico

noun

cal·​i·​co ˈka-li-ˌkō How to pronounce calico (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To be considered a calico cat, white, black and orange fur must all be present. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 Family heirlooms along with vintage and antique pieces played a huge role in the decor, from a child’s chair from Emily’s aunt and her grandmother’s clover lace to a 19th-century calico quilt and a collection of Ravi Varma prints. Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2025 Take Emmy Lou, a calico cat who recently went viral on TikTok (@ilovemycats0311), racking up 109,300 views since February 11. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025 In addition to her super on-trend jellyfish haircut, Miley also rocked the calico hair color trend that’s all over TikTok. Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 2 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calico

Word History

Etymology

Calicut, India

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of calico was in 1578

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Cite this Entry

“Calico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calico. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

calico

noun
cal·​i·​co ˈkal-i-ˌkō How to pronounce calico (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on calico

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