calico

/ˌkæləˈkoʊ/

/ˈkælɪkəʊ/

Other forms: calicoes; calicos

You can call anything with bright colors and patches calico like your cute calico cat or your colorful calico quilt.

There are many fabrics in the world, including silk, cashmere, and denim. Another is calico, which is made from cotton fibers and is printed, meaning it has designs or pictures on it. A calico dress may be printed with purple flowers or have another wild design. Because calico is brightly colored, this word also describes just about anything decorated brightly. As an adjective, calico means something close to motley or multi-colored. A calico design is varied and anything but boring.

Definitions of calico

1. noun

   coarse cloth with a bright print
   type of:

   cloth, fabric, material, textile

   artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
2. adjective

   made of calico or resembling calico in being patterned
   “calico dresses”

   “a calico cat”
3. adjective

   having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
   synonyms: motley, multi-color, multi-colored, multi-colour, multi-coloured, multicolor, multicolored, multicolour, multicoloured, painted, particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied, varicolored, varicoloured

   colored, colorful, coloured

   having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination