Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAL'I-CO, n. [Said to be from Calicut, in India.]

Cotton cloth. In England, white or unprinted cotton cloth is called calico. In the United States, calico is printed cotton cloth, having not more than two colors. I have never heard this name give to the unprinted cloth. Calico was originally imported from India, but is now manufactured in Europe and the United States.