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Calico facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Calico is a word that can mean different things! It's often used to describe a type of fabric, but it can also refer to certain animals with unique color patterns, or even places and people. Let's explore what "Calico" means in different ways.

Textiles

Calico Fabric

Calico is a simple type of cotton fabric. It's made using a plain weave, which means the threads go over and under each other in a very basic way. This makes calico strong and cheap to produce.

It was first made in a place called Calicut (now known as Kozhikode) in India. This is where the fabric got its name! Calico was very popular for printing colorful designs because its plain surface was perfect for showing off patterns.

Animals

Many animals are called "calico" because of their special mix of colors, usually patches of black, orange, and white.

  • Calico butterfly: This butterfly has beautiful wings with a mix of colors.
  • Calico cat: These are famous cats with three main colors in their fur: orange, black, and white. Almost all calico cats are female!
  • Calico goldfish: This type of goldfish has a unique spotted pattern on its scales.
  • Calico grouper: A fish found in the ocean, known for its mottled, calico-like skin pattern.
  • Calico Pennant: This is a type of dragonfly with colorful markings on its wings.

People

Some people have "Calico" as part of their name, or it's a nickname.

  • Calico Cooper (born 1981): She is an American actress. Her father is the famous rock musician, Alice Cooper.
  • Calico Jack Rackham (1682–1720): He was an English pirate captain who sailed the seas in the early 1700s. He was known for his colorful clothes, which might be how he got his nickname.
  • Tyrone Calico (born 1980): He is an American football player who played as a wide receiver.

Places

"Calico" can also be found in the names of different places, often because of the colorful rocks or history of the area.

  • Calico Mountains (California): A mountain range in California, USA.
    • Calico Ghost Town: This is an old mining town in California that is now a popular tourist attraction. It's called a "ghost town" because most of its original residents left after the silver mines closed.
    • Calico Peaks: These are specific mountains within the Calico Mountains range.
    • Calico Early Man Site: An important archaeological site in California where scientists study ancient human history.
  • Calico Mountains (Nevada): Another mountain range, located in Humboldt County, Nevada, USA.
    • Calico Mountains Wilderness: A protected natural area within the Calico Mountains of Nevada.
  • Calico Mills: A historic textile mill in India, showing the connection of the name to fabric production.
  • Calico Rock, Arkansas: A city in Izard County, United States, named after the colorful rocks in the area.

Images for kids

  • Calico Sample

    This picture shows the weave of a calico fabric sample. You can see how the threads are woven together.

  • Calico sample Crum & Co.

    This is a sample of calico fabric that was printed with a six-color machine. It shows how colorful designs were added to the fabric.

  • Calico printing Wellcome L0011294

    This image shows the process of printing designs onto calico fabric.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Calicó para niños

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Calico Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.