calico (kaliko)

and a. [Early mod. E. also callico (cf. Dan. kaliko, Sw. kalliko, F. calicot, Sp. calicó, E.; Sp. calicut, calicud, a silk stuff); so called from Calicut (in early mod. E. also Calicow, Calcco ) in India, whence it was first imported.] I. n.; pl. calicoes or -cos (-kōz). 1. Properly, any white cotton cloth: as, unbleached calico, shirting- calico, etc. Calico was first manufactured in India, whence it was introduced into Europe.-2. In the United States, printed cotton cloth of a coarser quality than muslin. II. a. 1. Made of calico: as, a calico gown. -2. Resembling printed cotton or calico; spotted; piebald: as, a calico horse. [Rare.] The kind-hearted Antony alighted from his calico mare, and ki ed them all with infinite loving-kindne . Irving , Knickerbocker, p. 419. A local name calico-back (kal'i-kō-bak), n. on the Atlantic coast of the United States of Caliber-rule. from its diameter or caliber, and vice vers a. -2. An outside caliper formed by a rule hav ing a graduated slide with a projecting foot, between which and the end of the rule is placed the piece to be measured. Also caliper - rule.