Splotch
/splɑtʃ/noun
A blot, stain, or irregular splash of liquid or color.
Did you know?Unlike older words with deep Latin roots, splotch is an expressive English formation that likely grew from splashy, imitative sound symbolism—proof that some words were basically invented to *feel* messy.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
splotch
“An irregular blot or stain; a messy splash mark.”
19th Century
English
splot
“A blot or stain; a small irregular mark.”
18th-19th Century
English
splatch / splat / splash
“Expressive sound-imitating words for a sudden wet impact or scattering of liquid.”
Early Modern English
English
blotch
“A blot, stain, or inflamed spot; later also a rough mark or blemish.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“To swell, blow up, or bloom; the ancient root behind words for bulging, blotting, and swelling forms.”