dappled, a.
(ˈdæp(ə)ld)
Also 5 dappeld, 6 daplit, 6–7 dapled.
[In form, the pa. pple. of dapple v., which however it precedes in recorded use by two centuries. If dapple n. occurred early enough, an adj. from it in -ed = ‘spotted’, would be possible; cf. F. pommelé, OF. pomelé, dappled, which similarly occurs long before the vb. pommeler, and was perh. immediately f. pommelle, or OF. pomel, dim. of pomme apple; also OE. æppled in æpplede gold, ‘formed into apples or balls’, from æppel n.]
Marked with roundish spots, patches, or blotches of a different colour or shade; spotted, speckled.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 142 It [Giraffe] es a faire beste, wele dappled [Cott. MS. a best pomelee or spotted, Fr. une beste techchele]. Ibid. 143 Þer er also wilde suyne..dappeld and spotted [Cott. MS. all spotted, Fr. toutz tecchelez]. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 21 The daplit sky wes lyke the cristell cleir. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 18 A gray steede..Whose sides with dapled circles weren dight. 1610 Fletcher Faithful Sheph. ii. ii, Only the dappled deer..Dwells in this fastness. 1632 Milton L'Allegro 41 Till the dappled dawn doth rise. 1718 Prior Poems, The Garland i, The dappl'd Pink, and blushing Rose. 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. i. i. §6 Beeches cast their dappled shade. 1868 Darwin Anim. & Pl. I. ii. 55 Horses of every colour..are all occasionally dappled. |
b. Comb. dappled grey = dapple-grey (horse).
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. vii. 37 Fast flying, on a Courser dapled gray. 1810 Scott Lady of L. i. xxiii, He saw your steed, a dappled grey. 1842 Tennyson Talking Oak 112 Her mother trundled to the gate Behind the dappled grays. |