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countable and uncountable, plural tabbies
(countable, uncountable) A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering. quotations examples
'Ay, ay; she wore a flowered silk tabby sacque, on band days,' said Toole, who had an eye and a corner in his memory for female costume, 'a fine showy—I remember.'
1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Church-yard. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley, Brothers, […]
(uncountable) 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. examples
(countable) A brindled cat. quotations examples
A wise tabby, a blinking sphinx, watched from her warm sill. Pity to disturb them. Mohammed cut a piece out of his mantle not to wake her.
1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 5]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […]
(countable, archaic) An old maid or gossip.
comparative tabbier, superlative tabbiest
Having a wavy or watered appearance. examples
Brindled; diversified in color. examples
third-person singular simple present tabbies, present participle tabbying, simple past and past participle tabbied
(transitive) To give a wavy or watered appearance to (a textile). examples