tabby

n.; pl. Tabbies [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A brindled cat; hence, popularly, any cat. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An old maid or gossip. [ Colloq. ] Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a wavy or watered appearance; as, a tabby waistcoat. Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Brindled; diversified in color; as, a tabby cat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tabby moth (Zool.), the grease moth. See under Grease. [ 1913 Webster ]