calico
C1Neutral to technical, depending on context (textile industry, animal breeding).
Definition
Meaning
A plain-woven textile, typically made from unbleached cotton, often with a simple printed pattern.
A type of domestic cat with a tri-colour coat (white, black, and orange/red). Also used to describe a mottled or multi-coloured pattern, especially in animals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The textile meaning is primary and historical. The feline meaning is common in North American English and specific to animal husbandry/breeding contexts. The word can also function adjectivally to describe a mottled pattern.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'calico' refers almost exclusively to the unbleached, plain cotton cloth. In the US, the term is strongly associated with the tri-colour cat coat pattern.
Connotations
UK: modest, practical, historical (e.g., pioneer clothing, sackcloth). US (cat): specific, common, descriptive breed term.
Frequency
More frequent in US English due to the common feline usage. In UK English, it's a somewhat dated or specialist textile term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
made of calicopatterned like calicoa calico of [colour/pattern]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'calico']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In textile manufacturing or retail, referring to a specific type of economical cotton fabric.
Academic
In historical studies (e.g., colonial trade, clothing) or genetics/zoology (describing feline coat colour inheritance).
Everyday
Most commonly used by cat owners/enthusiasts in North America to describe a cat's colouring.
Technical
Precise term in textiles for a plain-woven cotton; in veterinary science/breeding, a precise term for a sex-linked tri-colour coat in cats.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The calico sack was rough to the touch.
- She preferred calico curtains for the cottage.
American English
- They adopted a friendly calico kitten.
- The rabbit had a rare calico pattern of fur.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bag was made from strong calico.
- My grandmother's apron was simple blue calico.
- In the US, many people believe calico cats bring good luck.
- The historical re-enactors wore authentic clothing made from undyed calico.
- The calico's distinctive coat is caused by a specific genetic combination linked to the X chromosome.
- The exhibition featured 18th-century trade documents detailing the import of Indian calicoes into Europe.
- While all calico cats are tortoiseshell-and-white, not all tortoiseshell cats are calico, as the latter requires significant white spotting.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CALICO CATS wearing simple CALICO COATS (cloth).
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMPLICITY/UTILITY (fabric) → MOTTLED DIVERSITY (cat/pattern).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'ситец' автоматически; 'ситец' is usually a printed, finer cotton, while calico is often coarser and unbleached. Для кошки — это не 'пёстрый', а именно трёхцветный окрас (белый, чёрный, рыжий).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'calico' to describe any printed cotton (it's specifically plain-woven).
- Assuming the cat meaning is universal (it's primarily North American).
- Misspelling as 'callico'.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'calico' most commonly used to describe a cat?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'calico' refers only to the coat colour pattern (white, black, and orange), not a breed. Many breeds can have calico colouring.
It comes from 'Calicut' (now Kozhikode), a city in India from which this type of cotton cloth was originally exported to Europe.
No, 'calico' is not standardly used as a verb in modern English. It functions as a noun and an adjective.
Both are cotton fabrics, but 'chintz' is typically glazed or polished and has a more elaborate, often floral, pattern, while 'calico' is usually unglazed and can be plain or simply printed.