calico \cal"ico\, n.; pl. calicoes. so called because first
   imported from calicut, in the east indies: cf. f. calicot.
   1. plain white cloth made from cotton, but which receives
      distinctive names according to quality and use, as, super
      calicoes, shirting calicoes, unbleached calicoes, etc.
      eng.
      1913 webster

            the importation of printed or stained colicoes
            appears to have been coeval with the establishment
            of the east india company.            --beck
                                                  draper's
                                                  dict. .
      1913 webster

   2. cotton cloth printed with a figured pattern.
      1913 webster

   note: in the united states the term calico is applied only to
         the printed fabric.
         1913 webster

   calico bass zool., an edible, fresh-water fish pomoxys
      sparaides of the rivers and lake of the western united
      states esp. of the misissippi valley., allied to the
      sunfishes, and so called from its variegated colors; --
      called also calicoback, grass bass, strawberry bass,
      barfish, and bitterhead.

   calico printing, the art or process of impressing the
      figured patterns on calico.
      1913 webster
see also:
calicoes calico bass pomoxys sparaides calicoback grass bass strawberry bass 
barfish bitterhead calico printing