dapple

[ˈdæpl]

dapple Definition

a small contrasting spot or blotch, typically on a mammal or a bird.

Using dapple: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dapple" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The horse had a dapple coat.

  • Example

    The bird's feathers were dappled with shades of brown and white.

  • Example

    The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

dapple Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for dapple

Phrases with dapple

  • dapple-gray

    a gray horse with mottled spots of darker gray or black

    Example

    The dapple-gray mare was a beautiful sight to behold.

  • dapple-dawn-drawn

    a phrase used by Gerard Manley Hopkins in his poem 'Pied Beauty' to describe the beauty of nature's variety and diversity

    Example

    Glory be to God for dappled things - / For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; / For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim...

  • dapple-light

    the shifting, speckled light that filters through leaves and branches in a forest

    Example

    The hiker walked through the woods, enjoying the dapple-light that played across her face.

Origins of dapple

from Middle English 'daple', from Old Norse 'depla', meaning 'spot'

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Summary: dapple in Brief

The term 'dapple' [ˈdæpl] refers to small contrasting spots or blotches, often found on animals or birds. It can also describe the shifting, speckled light that filters through leaves and branches in a forest, as in 'The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.' 'Dapple' extends into phrases like 'dapple-gray,' describing a gray horse with mottled spots, and 'dapple-dawn-drawn,' a phrase used by Gerard Manley Hopkins to describe the beauty of nature's variety and diversity.