tabby

¹

[ tab-ee ]

noun

, plural tab·bies.

1. a cat with a striped or brindled coat.
2. a domestic cat, especially a female one.
3. a spinster.
4. a spiteful female gossip or tattler.
5. plain weave.
6. a watered silk fabric, or any other watered material, as moreen.

adjective

1. striped or brindled.
2. made of or resembling tabby.

verb (used with object)

, tab·bied, tab·by·ing.

1. to give a wavy or watered appearance to, as silk.

tabby

²

[ tab-ee ]

noun

1. (in the southeastern United States) a building material composed of ground oyster shells, lime, and sand, mixed with salt water.

tabby

¹

/ ˈtæbɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of cats) brindled with dark stripes or wavy markings on a lighter background
2. having a wavy or striped pattern, particularly in colours of grey and brown

noun

1. a tabby cat
2. any female domestic cat
3. informal.
   a gossiping old woman
4. slang.
   any girl or woman

tabby

²

/ ˈtæbɪ /

noun

1. a fabric with a watered pattern, esp silk or taffeta

Word History and Origins

Origin of tabby¹

First recorded in 1630–40; back formation from French tabis (taken as plural), Middle French (a)tabis “silk cloth,” from Medieval Latin attābi, from Arabic ʿattābī, derivative of (al) ʿAttābīyah, quarter of Baghdad where the silk was first made, literally, “the quarter of (Prince) ʿAttāb”

Origin of tabby²

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Gullah tabi, from a West African language

Word History and Origins

Origin of tabby¹

C17: from Tabby , pet form of the girl's name Tabitha , probably influenced by tabby ¹

Origin of tabby²

C17: from Old French tabis silk cloth, from Arabic al-`attabiya, literally: the quarter of (Prince) `Attab, the part of Baghdad where the fabric was first made

Example Sentences

Major Angier’s daughter Tabby, now 77, and his grandson Guy, stand to read excerpts of letters he wrote from the frontline.

From BBC

Tabby was three when her father left for the war, and her memories of him are fractured.

From BBC

At the time of her father’s death, people didn’t like to talk about wars, Tabby says.

From BBC

“I used to think that if he’s lost, they’re going to find him,” Tabby says.

From BBC

But as the years passed and she learnt what had happened, Tabby was told her father’s body would never be found.

From BBC