▪ I. splatch, n. Now Sc. and U.S.
(splætʃ)
[app. of imitative origin: cf. splotch and Sc. sclatch.]
A large or solid splash or spatter of mud, etc.; a large or glaring patch of colour.
| 1665 Hooke Microgr. 3 A great splatch of London dirt. 1671 Skinner Etymol. Ling. Angl. s.v., A splatch of dirt. 1825 Jamieson Suppl., A splatch o' dirt, a clot of mud thrown up in walking or otherwise. 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton xiii. 186 Behind us Kidderminster looked like a dusky red splatch in a plain of green. 1891 Columbus (Ohio) Disp. 20 Aug., Masses of ancient trees, through which splatches of color from thatch, tile or gable, hint of quiet village homes. |
▪ II. splatch, v. Sc. and U.S.
[Cf. prec.]
trans. To mark or diversify with, or as with, large splashes.
| 1825 Jamieson Suppl., To splatch,..to bedaub, to splash. 1893 Columbus (Ohio) Disp. 17 Aug., It is a mass of hills..splatched with knots of noble trees. |