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

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

Those who make the quick journey are rewarded by three miles of pristine shoreline covered with shells, including calico scallops, sand dollars, moon snail shells, and lightning whelks. —Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 17 May 2026

Asian swamp eels in Florida are largely of an olive or drab brown color with yellow-orange bellies, though some can be brightly colored with variations of orange, pink and calico patterns. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Last week, my prime-of-her-life and joy-of-my-heart calico cat caught a live vole and brought it into my office to chase around. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 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