mottle

(mät'l)

transitive verb mottled, mottling

to mark with blotches, streaks, and spots of different colors or shades

Origin: back-form. < mottled < motley + -ed

noun

  1. such a blotch, streak, or spot
  2. a mottled pattern or coloring, as of marble

Related Forms:

See mottle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb mot·tled, mot·tling, mot·tles
To mark with spots or blotches of different shades or colors.
noun
  1. A spot or blotch of color.
  2. A variegated pattern, as on marble.

Origin:

Origin: Probably back-formation from motley

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Related Forms:

  • motˈtler noun

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