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Where does the word "calico" come from? It comes from Malayalam Kozhikode, and was adopted directly into English (1500s-1600s).
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Where does the word "calico" come from? It comes from Malayalam Kozhikode, and was adopted directly into English (1500s-1600s).
Calico’s story begins in Malayalam: Kozhikode meant “the city of Calicut.” The name of the Indian port city also known as Calicut. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as calico. Named the plain cotton cloth first imported from that port. Today, calico means a plain-woven, often printed cotton fabric.
- Stage 1 · Malayalam · medieval Kozhikode "the city of Calicut", the name of the Indian port city also known as Calicut.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s-1600s calico "a plain, printed cotton cloth", named the plain cotton cloth first imported from that port.