Tabbies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tabby \Tab"by\ (t[a^]b"b[y^]), n.; pl. {Tabbies}
     (t[a^]b"b[i^]z). [F. tabis (cf. It. tab[`i], Sp. & Pg.
     tab['i], LL. attabi), fr. Ar. 'att[=a]b[imac], properly the
     name of a quarter of Bagdad where it was made, the quarter
     being named from the prince Attab, great grandson of Omeyya.
     Cf. {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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. An old maid or gossip. [Colloq.] --Byron.
        [1913 Webster]