mottle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɒt(ə)l/

verb

[with object]
  • mark with spots or smears of colour: green leaves that are heavily mottled with chocolate and maroon (as adjective mottled) a bird with mottled brown plumage

noun

  • an irregular arrangement of spots or patches of colour: the ship was not dull grey as distance had suggested, but a mottle of khaki and black and olive green
  • a spot or patch forming part of a mottled arrangement: a pale grey with lighter grey mottles

Origin:

late 18th century: probably a back-formation from motley