Definition of "calico" [cal•i•co]

• A coarse, brightly printed cloth. (noun)
• Chiefly British A plain white cotton cloth, heavier than muslin. (noun)
• An animal, such as a cat, having a coat that is mottled in tones of white with red and black. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "She robbed the windows of their lawn and muslin curtains, replacing them with gaudy calico from the trade-store, and made herself several gowns."
• "To the lady asking about leggings, I wear leggings under all my dresses; long and warm for winter, and 'Petti Pants' (like wide bermuda shorts but in calico with an elastic waist) for summer. over these a slip (or petiblouse if wearing a skirt) and I'm set for the day."
• "And in the meantime, our calico is still sitting on her shelf, waiting for a paycheck."