dappled
UK: ˈdæpəld | US: ˈdæpəld
adj. marked with spots or rounded patches of color or light
vt. past tense of "dapple" (to mark with spots)
The word "dapple" likely originates from the Old Norse "depill" (spot) or the Proto-Germanic "*dap-", meaning "to spot" or "stain." The suffix "-ed" transforms the verb into an adjective, describing something that has been marked with spots. The term evokes imagery of natural patterns, such as sunlight filtering through leaves or the coat of an animal like a deer. Over time, "dappled" became associated with irregular, mottled appearances in both literal and poetic contexts.
The dappled sunlight danced on the forest floor.
She admired the dappled coat of the fawn.
The artist used watercolors to create a dappled effect.
The horse’s dappled gray hide shimmered in the sun.
Autumn leaves lay dappled across the path.