/ ˈkælɪkəʊ; NAmE -koʊ/ noun [ U ]
1.
( especially BrE ) a type of heavy cotton cloth that is usually plain white
2.
( especially NAmE ) a type of rough cotton cloth that has a pattern printed on it
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (originally also calicut ): alteration of Calicut , a seaport in the state of Kerala in SW India, where the fabric originated.