I. ˈdapəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English dappel (in dappel-gray ) — more at dapple - gray
: dappled
a dapple horse
II. noun
( -s )
1. : one of numerous usually cloudy and rounded spots or patches of a color or shade different from their background
the distinctive markings of each horse … flecks, dapples, stockings — Harry Disston
clouds and sun throwing gigantic dapples over the varicolored green of the treetops — Tom Marvel
2. : the quality or state of being dappled : mottled appearance
the dapple of the leaf-filtered light — Anthony West
3. : a dappled animal (as a horse)
III. verb
( dappled ; dappled ; dappling -p(ə)liŋ ; dapples )
transitive verb
: to mark or variegate with spots or patches of different shade or color
beach plums dapple our dunes and fields with snowy drifts — Christian Science Monitor
rings of sunlight … dappled the dark grass — Truman Capote
intransitive verb
: to become dappled
sunlight dappling through the great cedar and hemlock tops — Hugh Fosburgh