dappled

[ dap-uhld ]

adjective

1. having spots of a different shade, tone, or color from the background; mottled.

Other Words From

• un·dappled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dappled¹

1350–1400; Middle English, probably < Scandinavian; akin to Old Norse depill spot

Example Sentences

Inspecting such dappled shadows can open a vista into hidden worlds.

From Science News For Students

It was the Saturday of our first weekend of fall, a bright-enough day that found our trees still in full leaf, so that it was a dappled sunshine that still fell across streets and walls, but with a distinctly late-September look.

From Washington Post

When you are riding in nature on uneven terrain, you are facing dappled light from tree coverage, unpredictable surfaces like gravel, fallen branches, and mud, and the possibility of falling onto sharp objects.

From Popular-Science

Gin and white vermouth shaken with salted pomegranate syrup, dappled with rosewater.

From The Daily Beast

We headed out soon after, back into the sunlight-dappled gardens of the temple complex, to join worshippers picnicking.

From The Daily Beast

Up close the color, added by hand after printing, is soft and dappled, and the paper is slightly raised like a new mosquito bite.

From The Daily Beast

Enron's Ken Lay conducting television interviews, dappled with references to his being the humble son-of-a-pastor.

From The Daily Beast

In the Catacomb of St. Sebastian was also found a small terra cotta horse of rude design, dappled with coloured spots.

From Project Gutenberg

Out beyond us was a sun-soaked clearing, a tiny swamp on the hillside, and the sunlight dappled in across her skirt.

From Project Gutenberg

The low mantel was of Italian marble, white, dappled and veined with red shading to faintest rose.

From Project Gutenberg

Chime, ye dappled darlings,Down the roaring blast; You shall see a fox dieEre an hour be past.

From Project Gutenberg

The sun was up now and the turf was all dappled with lights and shadows, and about him much small, furtive wild life was stirring.

From Project Gutenberg