ppl. a. [f. SPECK sb.1 or v.1.]

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  1.  Covered or marked with specks or spots; speckled; checkered, dappled, variegated.

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1382.  Wyclif, Gen. xxx. 32. Seuer alle thi speckid sheep, and with speckyd flese, and what euere ȝolow, and speckid, and dyuerse colourid were, as wel in sheep as in geyt, shal be my mede.

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1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 189. Ȝif þey drynken of boþe, þey schulle worþe spekked of dyuers colour. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., XVIII. lxviii. (Bodl. MS.). His backe is diuerslich ischape & specked as þe pard is.

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c. 1450.  Nominale (MS. Harl. 1002), 147 b. Scutulatus, speckud.

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c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxx. 243. A syde hede and a fare fax, his gowne must be spekytt.

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1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 64. The floures are … specked in the knappes and buddes.

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1616.  J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., IX. 387. Wheare seemd a longe speckd snake, his postern drewe and wrigled, her to stinge with forker blewe.

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1654.  Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. viii. 227.

        Sure a pure Chrystall would more pleasant be
Than a Speckt glasse tainted by venemous eye.

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1699.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Speckt-wiper, c. a colour’d Handkerchief.

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1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 204. The speckt throstle never wakes his song.

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1886.  Holland, Chesh. Gloss., Speckt baw, a suet dumpling with currants in it.

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  b.  Of fruit: Having specks of decay or disease.

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1658.  [implied in SPECKEDNESS].

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1882.  Garden, 4 Feb., 72/2. Even when the trees are but slightly affected by either canker or mildew the fruit is sure to be specked and comparatively valueless for market.

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1897.  Daily News, 9 Sept., 3/7. ‘Specked’ fruit was fruit damaged, but not necessarily unsound.

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  † 2.  Of a disease: Characterized by the appearance of specks or spots. Obs.–0

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1648.  Hexham, II. Ceter, of schorfte als Lazerie, Specked Leprosie.

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  Hence Speckedness, the state of being specked or covered with specks, blemishes, etc.; a specked or unsound place.

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1617.  Rider’s Dict., Nævositas, speckednesse.

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1656.  Blount, Glossogr., Nevosity, speckedness, fulness of moles or freckles.

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1658.  trans. Porta’s Nat. Magick, IV. v. 119. See that they [the fruits] be sound, without any bruise, or speckednesse.

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