Fleck
/flɛk/noun
A small spot, mark, or particle of color or matter.
Did you know?Fleck is closely related to German Fleck and Dutch vlek, preserving an old Germanic word for a spot or stain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*plak-
“To be flat or spread out; a proposed deeper root connected with several words for flat pieces or surfaces.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*flekką
“A spot, mark, or speck; the form reconstructed as the ancestor of related Germanic words.”
Old English
Old English
flec
“A spot, blot, or stain.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
flekkr
“A spot or stain; a closely related form that may have influenced later English.”
14th Century
Middle English
flek
“A small spot or mark, especially one of color.”
Modern English
English
fleck
“A small spot, particle, or fragment.”