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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Washington Post

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

Read more on Washington Post

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

Read more on 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.”

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

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