fleck

[flek]

noun

1. a speck; a small bit.

   a fleck of dirt.

2. a spot or small patch of color, light, etc..

   the dapple mare with flecks of gray.

3. a spot or mark on the skin, as a freckle.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with a fleck or flecks; spot; dapple.

   Synonyms: daub, speck, dot, spatter, bespeckle

fleck

/ flɛk /

noun

1. a small marking or streak; speckle

2. a small particle; speck

   a fleck of dust

verb

1. Also: flecker. (tr) to mark or cover with flecks; speckle

Other Word Forms

• fleckless adjective
• flecklessly adverb
• flecky adjective
• unflecked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleck¹

1350–1400; Middle English flekked spotted; akin to Old Norse flekkr spot, streak, Old High German flec ( German Fleck ), Middle Low German, Middle Dutch vlecken to soil

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleck¹

C16: probably from Old Norse flekkr stain, spot; related to Old High German flec spot, plot of land

Example Sentences

Stack ladyfingers with whole-berry cranberry sauce, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream flecked with a decidedly ungodly amount of orange zest.

Read more on Salon

Far below, through the tattered clouds, the chalk cliffs of Dover glowed white as old bone, and the dark water of the English Channel was flecked with whitecaps.

Read more on Literature

Some were flecked with gold; others were dark as rich chocolate.

Read more on Literature

Video clips from the fateful 1994 rally show Colosio, his curly black hair flecked with confetti, shaking hands and signing autographs as he winds his way through a gleeful political crowd.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sometimes a flaky crust, a sticky-sweet filling, and a few zesty flecks of orange are enough to do the trick.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• speck 
• stripe