1 (in full tabby cat) a a grey or brownish cat mottled or streaked with dark stripes. b any domestic cat, esp. female.
2 a kind of watered silk.
3 a plain weave.
Etymology: F tabis (in sense 2) f. Arab. al-' attabiya the quarter of Baghdad where tabby was manufactured: connection of other senses uncert.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.