speck

Synonyms

Speck, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. spik blubber, AS. spic, D. spek, G. speck.] Defn: The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus. Speck falls (Naut.), falls or ropes rove through blocks for hoisting the blubber and bone of whales on board a whaling vessel. Speck, n. Etym: [OE. spekke, AS. specca; cf. LG. spaak.] 1. A small discolored place in or on anything, or a small place of a color different from that of the main substance; a spot; a stain; a blemish; as, a speck on paper or loth; specks of decay in fruit. "Gray sand, with black specks." Anson. 2. A very small thing; a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money. Many bright specks bubble up along the blue Egean. Landor. 3. (Zoöl.) Defn: A small etheostomoid fish (Ulocentra stigmæa) common in the Eastern United States. Speck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Specked; p. pr. & vb. n. Specking.] Defn: To cause the presence of specks upon or in, especially specks regarded as defects or blemishes; to spot; to speckle; as, paper specked by impurities in the water used in its manufacture. Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold. Milton.