tabby
Tabby (noun) means a cat with a striped or mottled coat pattern. Example: “The tabby curled up on the windowsill in the sun.”
How to use tabby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to the common striped or blotched pattern seen in many domestic cats.
Word forms
tabbier comparative, tabbied past tense, tabbies plural, tabbies singular, tabbiest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ curled up on the windowsill in the sun.
Etymology
From French tabis, ultimately from Arabic al-attabiyya, a district of Baghdad known for producing a type of striped watered silk; the pattern name later transferred to cats with similar markings.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tabby
See all rhymes for tabby →Frequently asked questions
What does “tabby” mean?
The word “tabby” means a cat with a striped or mottled coat pattern. In plain terms, refers to the common striped or blotched pattern seen in many domestic cats.
How do you pronounce “tabby”?
“Tabby” is pronounced TAB-ee (/ˈtæb.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “tabby” in a sentence?
Here is “tabby” used in a sentence: “The tabby curled up on the windowsill in the sun.”
What part of speech is “tabby”?
Depending on how it is used, “tabby” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “tabby” come from?
The word “tabby” comes from French. From French tabis, ultimately from Arabic al-attabiyya, a district of Baghdad known for producing a type of striped watered silk; the pattern name later transferred to cats with similar markings.
How many meanings does “tabby” have?
“Tabby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cat with a striped or mottled coat pattern.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing tabby in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Tabby describes a coat pattern rather than a breed, which is why tabbies turn up across almost every type of cat.