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Webster 1913 Edition

Tabby

Tab′by

(tăb′by̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Tabbies
(tăb′bĭz)
.
[F.
tabis
(cf. It.
tabì
, Sp. & Pg.
tabí
, LL.
attabi
), fr. Ar.
’attābī
, 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.
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.
3.
A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat.
4.
An old maid or gossip.
[Colloq.]
Byron.

Tab′by

,
Adj.
1.
Having a wavy or watered appearance;
as, a
tabby
waistcoat
.
Pepys.
2.
Brindled; diversified in color;
as, a
tabby
cat
.
Tabby moth
(Zool.)
,
the grease moth. See under
Grease
.

Tab′by

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tabbied
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tabbying
.]
To water; to cause to look wavy, by the process of calendering; to calender;
as, to
tabby
silk, mohair, ribbon, etc.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tabby

TAB'BY

,
Adj.
[See the Noun.] Brinded; brindled; diversified in color; as a tabby cat.

TAB'BY

, n.
1.
A kind of waved silk, usually watered. It is manufactured like taffeta, but is thick and stronger. The watering is given to it by the calendar.
2.
A mixture of stone of shells and mortar, which becomes hard as a rock; used in Morocco.

TAB'BY

,
Verb.
T.
To water or cause to look wavy; as, to tabby silk, mohair, ribin, &c. This is done by a calendar without water.

Definition 2024

Tabby

Tabby

See also: tabby

English

Proper noun

Tabby

  1. A diminutive of the female given name Tabitha.

tabby

tabby

See also: Tabby

English

Noun

tabby ‎(countable and uncountable, plural tabbies)

  1. (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.
  2. (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.
  3. (countable) A brindled cat.
  4. (countable, archaic) An old maid or gossip.

Synonyms

  • (An old maid or gossip): See Wikisaurus:old woman

Translations

Adjective

tabby ‎(not comparable)

  1. Having a wavy or watered appearance
    a tabby waistcoat
  2. Brindled; diversified in color
    a tabby cat.

Translations

Etymology

Mid 17th century French atabis, from Arabic عَتَّابِيّ ‎(ʿattābiyy), ultimately from Arabic الْعَتَّابِيَّة ‎(al-ʿattābiyya), a quarter of Baghdad (named for a Prince عَتَّاب ‎(ʿattāb)) which is associated with the manufacture of a certain type of waved silk. See also taffeta, another type of silk whose name derives from the Persian تافته ‎(tâfta, “woven cloth”) and shares a similar etymological origin.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtæb.i/
  • Rhymes: -æbi

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