flyspeck

[ flahy-spek ]

noun

1. a speck or tiny stain from the excrement of a fly.
2. any minute spot.
3. Plant Pathology. a disease of pome fruits, characterized by small, raised, dark spots on the fruit, caused by a fungus, Leptothyrium pomi.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with flyspecks.

flyspeck

/ ˈflaɪˌspɛk /

noun

1. the small speck of the excrement of a fly
2. a small spot or speck

verb

1. tr to mark with flyspecks

Word History and Origins

Origin of flyspeck¹

First recorded in 1850–55; fly ¹ + speck

Example Sentences

He pared away the flyspecks and stray hairs and human impulses.

From New York Times

Its discretion in setting deportation priorities is in keeping with preceding administrations — and deserves restraint from judges asked to flyspeck it, not interference.

From Washington Post

“Look, I’m not going to flyspeck this,” the president added.

From Washington Post

My hometown, Gibsland, a flyspeck of a place, was and is majority Black.

From Seattle Times

In Sunday’s filing, prosecutors said the bar for overturning a jury verdict should be very high and that judges should reject the “invitation to flyspeck the jury’s verdict in hopes of a better outcome.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• blot
• dot
• fleck
• iota
• mite
• particle
• shred
• splotch
• stain