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

Dilute calicos are also typically female because the color genes are located on the X chromosome. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026

These orange and black pests, also known as calico beetles, can attack raspberry bushes by sucking out the plant sap, destroying any hope of a harvest. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 10 June 2026

Here's Teyana Taylor making a strong case for incorporating both tones in your look for a fun spin on the calico hair color trend. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 22 May 2026

Among the raw concrete and calico draping are pieces by Comme des Garçons, Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Calicut, India

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing calico

• calico bass
• calico bush

Rhymes for calico

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calypso
• cameo
• ceo

Kids 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