splotch
/splɒtʃ
/informal
noun
A daub, blot, or smear of something, typically a liquid: a splotch of red in a larger area of yellow...
- ‘Beefman is a very confused guy,’ Irene says, staring at a splotch of spilled soy sauce that has dried to the table.
- In doing so she got a splotch of flour on her forehead.
- Within the modern ice box everything was well organized and not a splotch of food anywhere to be seen.
verb [with object]
Make a daub, blot, or smear on: a rag splotched with grease...
- Ugly purplish bruises were already splotching her wrist.
- But then, even young girls do not fail to recognize a handsome face when they see one - even if it is splotched with black grease.
- Wooden-slatted ‘windows’ hang on a structure of clear plastic that is splotched with colors; a huge scaffold sits nearby.
Derivatives
splotchy
- He was staring at the brown splotchy ceiling, mulling over the events of that evening, when his door began to creak open.
- It's good in some places, but the black levels often appear grey or splotchy.
- His face was splotchy and wet and he whimpered when he looked me in the eye.
Origin
Early 17th century: perhaps a blend of spot and obsolete plotch 'blotch'.