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

Tom looked up and saw a tiny flyspeck roaring straight down at the ship.

From Project Gutenberg

This affair to-night is a mere flyspeck to whats coming along in a week.

From Project Gutenberg

But to me his ambitions seemed futile, and the whole of Long Island less important than a flyspeck on the map of the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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