flyspeck

[flahy-spek]

noun

1. a speck or tiny stain from the excrement of a fly.

2. any minute spot.

3. Plant Pathology.,  a disease of pome fruits, characterized by small, raised, dark spots on the fruit, caused by a fungus, Leptothyrium pomi.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with flyspecks.

flyspeck

/ ˈflaɪˌspɛk /

noun

1. the small speck of the excrement of a fly

2. a small spot or speck

verb

1. (tr) to mark with flyspecks

Word History and Origins

Origin of flyspeck¹

First recorded in 1850–55; fly ¹ + speck

Example Sentences

He pared away the flyspecks and stray hairs and human impulses.

From New York Times

Its discretion in setting deportation priorities is in keeping with preceding administrations — and deserves restraint from judges asked to flyspeck it, not interference.

From Washington Post

“Look, I’m not going to flyspeck this,” the president added.

From Washington Post

My hometown, Gibsland, a flyspeck of a place, was and is majority Black.

From Seattle Times

In Sunday’s filing, prosecutors said the bar for overturning a jury verdict should be very high and that judges should reject the “invitation to flyspeck the jury’s verdict in hopes of a better outcome.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• blot 
• dot 
• fleck 
• iota 
• mite 
• particle 
• shred 
• splotch 
• stain