calico

Everyday

1. (UK) A plain, cheap cotton cloth, usually cream or white and not dyed. tree →
2. (US) A cotton cloth printed with small bright patterns, often flowers. tree →
3. (US) A calico cat: a cat with patches of white, black and orange fur. tree →

In the lessons

In design and technology lessons, calico is used for practice sewing, bags and printing. In history, calico came from Calicut in India and was traded around the world. In American stories and pioneer life, girls wore calico dresses. In science, nearly all calico cats are female because of how fur colour genes work.

Examples

• We printed our designs on calico bags. tree →
• The pioneer girl wore a calico dress. tree →
• Our calico cat has orange, black and white patches. (US) tree →
• The teacher gave each of us a square of calico to sew. tree →
• Calico was once shipped from India to England. tree →
• Calico is a cheap, plain cotton fabric. (UK) tree →

Note

Uncountable for the cloth: «some calico», «a piece of calico». Plural «calicoes» or «calicos» for kinds or cats. Said «KAL-ih-koh». In the UK a calico cat is usually called a «tortoiseshell and white» cat.