dap·pled

[dap-uhld]
adjective
having spots of a different shade, tone, or color from the background; mottled.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English, probably < Scandinavian; akin to Old Norse depill spot

un·dap·pled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

dap·ple

[dap-uhl] noun, adjective, verb, dap·pled, dap·pling.
noun
1.
a spot or mottled marking, usually occurring in clusters.
2.
an animal with a mottled skin or coat.
adjective
3.
dappled; spotted: a dapple horse.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4.
to mark or become marked with spots.

Origin:
1545–55; probably back formation from dappled

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To dappled
00:10
Dappled is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
dapple (ˈdæpəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to mark or become marked with spots or patches of a different colour; mottle
 
n
2.  mottled or spotted markings
3.  a dappled horse, etc
 
adj
4.  marked with dapples or spots
 
[C14: of unknown origin]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dapple
c.1400 (dappled), perhaps a back-formation from dapple-grey "apple-grey" (late 14c.), by resemblance to the markings on an apple (cf. O.N. apalgrar "dapple-gray"), or, as it was used of gray horses with round blotches, perhaps of apples themselves.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Then one of the dappled things objected, and an animated discussion sprang up
  round the fire.
It will grow in full sun, but does best in a light, dappled shade.
Dandelions are tiny symmetries of sunshine from nature's palette, dappled gaily
  across the landscape to grace it with diversity.
Imagine sipping your tea or wine in the dappled light of your own backyard
  arbor bench, your favorite vine overhead.
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