[tri.cot] n [F, fr. tricoter to knit, fr. MF, to agitate, hop, ultim. fr. OF estriquier to stroke, of Gmc origin; akin to OE strican to stroke--more at strike] (1872) 1: a plain warp-knitted fabric (as of nylon, wool, rayon, silk, or cotton) with a close inelastic knit and used esp. in clothing (as underwear)
2: a twilled clothing fabric of wool with fine warp ribs or of wool and cotton with fine weft ribs