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/tˈæbi/ Listen

noun

Tabby n. (pl. tabbies)

A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering.

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.

A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat.

An old maid or gossip. (Colloq.)

verb

Tabby v. t. (past & past part. tabbied; pres. part. tabbying) To water; to cause to look wavy, by the process of calendering; to calender; as, to tabby silk, mohair, ribbon, etc.

adjective

Tabby adj.

Having a wavy or watered appearance; as, a tabby waistcoat.

Brindled; diversified in color; as, a tabby cat.

Tabby moth (Zool.), the grease moth. See under Grease.

See images of 'Tabby'

Etymology of 'Tabby'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Tabby" Quotes from Famous Books

... expected, and all were glad to see again the sojourner in foreign lands, even down to the ladylike tabby, who was all purr and warmth towards him except when she was all claws and nippers. But had the prime sentiment of the meeting shown itself it would have been the unqualified surprise of Christopher ...

— The Hand of Ethelberta • Thomas Hardy

... you—out driving with papa. Good Rollo!" as the dignified animal rose from the hearthrug to greet her, waving his handsome tail, and calmly expelled a large tabby cat from the easy- chair, to make room for his friends. "Well done, old Roll! Fancy ...

— The Three Brides • Charlotte M. Yonge

... head-quarters of swimming and flying monsters and sirens, and no Mexican would pass in hearing of the yells and screams and strange songs without crossing himself and begging the captain to give the rock a wide berth. But the noise is all the noise of cats. A shipwrecked tabby peopled the place many years ago, and her numerous progeny live there on dead fish and on the eggs and ...

— Myths And Legends Of Our Own Land, Complete • Charles M. Skinner

... farmer, gently, as he rose and went to carry the milk-pails into the pantry, calling coaxingly, as he did so, "Kitty! kitty! You had your milk? Don't you joggle, now!" For one eager tabby rose on her hind legs, in purring haste, and hit her nose ...

— Meadow Grass - Tales of New England Life • Alice Brown

... "I am tired to death of living in this cold, dark, windy, smoky, creaking, groaning, dismal old house. I shall feel like a younger man when we get into my splendid brick mansion, as, please Heaven, we shall by this time next autumn. You shall have a room on the sunny side, old Tabby, finished and furnished as best may ...

— Twice Told Tales • Nathaniel Hawthorne

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