speckle

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: speck=le

CIDE DICTIONARY

speckle, n. [Dim. of speck; cf. D. spikkel.].

 A little or spot in or anything, of a different substance or color from that of the thing itself.  [1913 Webster]
"An huge great serpent, all with speckles pied."  [1913 Webster]

speckle, v. t. 

 To mark with small spots of a different color from that of the rest of the surface; to variegate with spots of a different color from the ground or surface.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

speckle, n. & v.
--n. a small spot, mark, or stain, esp. in quantity on the skin, a bird's egg, etc.
--v.tr. (esp. as speckled adj.) mark with speckles or patches.

Etymology

ME f. MDu. spekkel

ROGET THESAURUS

speckle

Blemish

N blemish, disfigurement, deformity, adactylism, flaw, defect, injury, spots on the sun, eyesore, stain, blot, spot, spottiness, speck, speckle, blur, tarnish, smudge, dirt, freckle, mole, macula, patch, blotch, birthmark, blobber lip, blubber lip, blain, maculation, scar, wem, pustule, whelk, excrescence, pimple, pitted, freckled, discolored, imperfect, blobber-lipped, bloodshot, injured.

VB disfigure, speckle.

Variegation

VB be variegated, variegate, stripe, streak, checker, chequer, bespeckle, speckle, besprinkle, sprinkle, stipple, maculate, dot, bespot, tattoo, inlay, damascene, embroider, braid, quilt.