freckle

American  

[frek-uhl] / ˈfrɛk əl /

noun

1. one of the small, brownish spots on the skin that are caused by deposition of pigment and that increase in number and darken on exposure to sunlight; lentigo.

2. any small spot or discoloration.

   freckles of paint spattered on the floor.

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verb (used with object)

freckled, freckling

1. to cover with freckles; produce freckles on.

verb (used without object)

freckled, freckling

1. to become freckled.

freckle British  

/ ˈfrɛkəl /

noun

1. Technical name: lentigo.  a small brownish spot on the skin: a localized deposit of the pigment melanin, developed by exposure to sunlight

2. any small area of discoloration; a spot

3. slang the anus

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verb

1. to mark or become marked with freckles or spots

Other Word Forms

• freckled adjective
• unfreckled adjective
• well-freckled adjective

Etymology

Origin of freckle

1350–1400; blend of obsolete frecken freckle ( Middle English frekne < Old Norse *frekna; compare freknōttr speckled, Norwegian, Icelandic frekna, Swedish fräkna freckle) and speckle (noun)

Example Sentences

I got my complexion and freckles from his side of the family, but, sure as hell, I’m Native enough to make Custer nervous.

From Literature

He lifts the bottom of his shirt to wipe off the water that’s dripped down his chin, and I look away because it feels too intimate to see the bottom of his freckled stomach.

From Literature

She was freckled and had red hair and was as small as the girls in fifth grade.

From Literature

He was a giant of a man with freckles, a red beard, and a squint.

From Literature

Her muzzle was white, with small black dots where her whiskers grew, almost like the freckles on Maggie’s cheeks.

From Literature

Related Words

• blemish
• blotch
• mole