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
This gorgeous calico and white cat is an adoptable guest at Our Companions Animal Sanctuary.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025
The research also explains why tortoiseshell and calico cats tend to be females.
—Rob Reddick, WIRED, 31 Dec. 2024
Ward is survived by his wife, Seely, and his loving calico cat Corrie, as well as three children — Judy Olive, Johnny Myers (Wanda), and Keven Ward (Beth) — plus grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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
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Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025
The research also explains why tortoiseshell and calico cats tend to be females.
—Rob Reddick, WIRED, 31 Dec. 2024
Ward is survived by his wife, Seely, and his loving calico cat Corrie, as well as three children — Judy Olive, Johnny Myers (Wanda), and Keven Ward (Beth) — plus grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for calico
Dictionary Entries Near calico
Cite this Entry
“Calico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calico. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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