Tabby
Tabby (tab"by) , noun
[French tabis (compare Italian tabì, Sp. & Portuguese tabí, Late Latin attabi), from Arabic 'attābī, properly the name of a quarter of Bagdad where it was made, the quarter being named from the prince Attab, great grandson of Omeyya. Compare Tobine.]
1.
A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering.
2.
A mixture of lime with shells, gravel, or stones, in equal proportions, with an equal proportion of water. When dry, this becomes as hard as rock. — Weale
3.
A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat.
4.
An old maid or gossip. [Colloquial] — Byron
Tabby , adjective
1.
Having a wavy or watered appearance; as, a tabby waistcoat. — Pepys
2.
Brindled; diversified in color; as, a tabby cat.
Collocations (1)
Tabby , transitive verb
To water; to cause to look wavy, by the process of calendering; to calender; as, to tabby silk, mohair, ribbon, etc.