ˈspecking, vbl. n.
[f. speck v.1 + -ing1.]
1. Austral. The action of searching for surface gold or opal. Cf. sense 5 of speck v.1
| 1901 M. Vivienne Travels in W. Australia 171 Almost everyone in the camp went out for an afternoon's specking (looking on the ground for nuggets). 1945 Walkabout (Melbourne) 1 Mar. 14 Most of the residents of Lightning Ridge are experts at the art of ‘specking’. |
2. The discoloration of pottery through contamination of the glaze, or this effect contrived for decoration.
| 1967 M. Chandler Ceramics in Mod. World iii. 96 In the case of a glaze mix, it is particularly important to avoid contamination and specking. a 1977 Harrison Mayer Ltd. Catal. 22/3 Ilmenite{ddd}can be used in glazes to obtain specking effects. |