mottle
verb
[ ˈmɒt(ə)l ]
• mark with spots or smears of colour.
• "green leaves that are heavily mottled with chocolate and maroon"
mottle
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"
Origin:
late 18th century: probably a back-formation from motley.
