mottle

¹mot·tle

noun \ˈmä-t^əl\

Definition of MOTTLE

1

: a colored spot

2

a : a surface having colored spots or blotches

b : the arrangement of such spots or blotches on a surface

3

: mosaic 5

— mot·tled \-t^əld\ adjective

Examples of MOTTLE

1. <canvases covered with streaks and mottles>

Origin of MOTTLE

probably back-formation from motley

First Known Use: 1676

Related to MOTTLE

Synonyms

blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, spot, patch, pip, point, speck, speckle, splotch

Related Words

birthmark, freckle, mole; blob, blot, mark, smear, smudge, smutch, stain; spatter, splash; polka dot

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with MOTTLE

bottle, dottle, glottal, pottle, ratel, throttle, wattle

²mottle

transitive verb

mot·tledmot·tling \ˈmät-liŋ, ˈmä-t^əl-iŋ\

Definition of MOTTLE

: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained

— mot·tler \ˈmät-lər, ˈmä-t^əl-ər\ noun

Examples of MOTTLE

1. <old papers that were mottled by mold>

First Known Use of MOTTLE

1676

Related to MOTTLE

Synonyms

blotch, dapple, dot, fleck, freckle, marble, spot, pepper, shoot, speck, speckle, splotch, sprinkle, stipple

Related Words

blot, dye, stain; band, bar, streak, stripe; intersperse, set, stud; bespatter, spatter

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with MOTTLE

bottle, throttle, wattle