Tabby

Definitions

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.
   countable, uncountable
2. A diminutive of the female given name Tabitha.
3. A concrete 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.
   uncountable
4. A diminutive of the female given name Tabetha.
5. A brindled cat.
   countable
6. A woman, irrespective of age, but often used for a young, attractive woman.
   Australia, countable, slang, uncountable
7. An old maid or gossip.
   archaic, countable

Equivalents

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⟳."”

“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.”

“‘The kids go for a drive⟳ in a borrowed car, park⟳ on another street between the corner lamps, and then there’s ructions because some little tabby gets up the stick⟳.’”

CEFR level