speckle

[spek-uhl]

noun

1. a small speck, spot, or mark, as on skin.

2. speckled coloring or marking.

verb (used with object)

speckled, speckling 

1. to mark with or as with speckles.

speckle

/ ˈspɛkəl /

noun

1. a small or slight mark usually of a contrasting colour, as on the skin, a bird's plumage, or eggs

verb

1. (tr) to mark with or as if with speckles

Other Word Forms

• speckledness noun
• unspeckled adjective
• speckled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of speckle¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; speck, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of speckle¹

C15: from Middle Dutch spekkel; see _speck

Example Sentences

In his larger home – with patios and several rooms – a group of speckled hens fights for rooftop space between the solar panels.

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One of them kept her eyes glued to Palacios as she reached sneakily for the cat’s speckled fur.

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“One of the things that we really wanted to feature as well is those green and white speckled plastic plates that you get at casual restaurants,” she said.

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The epicenter of the community is Westwood, where the neighborhood’s namesake boulevard is speckled with storefronts covered in Persian script.

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These pants were usually khakis speckled with paint and cigarette ash.

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Related Words

• mottle