Category:Spot

Spot, n. Etym: [cf. Scot. & d. spat, dan. spette, sw. spott spittle, Slaver; from the root of e. spit. See spit to eject from the mouth, And cf. Spatter.]

1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a Place discolored. Out, damned spot! Out, i say! Shak.

2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; Disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish. Yet chloe, sure, was formed without a spot. Pope.

3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the Ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a Playing card.

4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. "fixed to One spot." Otway. That spot to which i point is paradise. Milton. "a jolly place," said he, "in times of old! But something ails it Now: the spot is cursed." Wordsworth.

5. (zoöl.)

Defn: a variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot On its head just above its beak.

6. (zoöl.) (a) a sciænoid food fish (liostomus xanthurus) of the atlantic coast Of the united states. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and Fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also goody, lafayette, Masooka, and old wife. (b) the southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side At the base of the tail. See redfish.

7. pl.

Defn: commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate Delivery. [broker's cant] crescent spot (zoöl.), any butterfly of the Family melitæidæ having crescent-shaped white spots along the margins Of the red or brown wings. -- spot lens (microscopy), a condensing lens in which the light is Confined to an annular pencil by means of a small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field ilumination; -- called also Spotted lens. -- spot rump (zoöl.), the hudsonian godwit (limosa hæmastica). -- spots on the sun. (astron.) See sun spot, ander sun. -- on, or upon, the spot, immediately; before moving; without Changing place. It was determined upon the spot. Swift.

Syn. -- stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish; Place; site; locality.

Spot Spot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spotting.]

1. To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor In or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots or figures; as, to Spot a garnment; to spot paper.

2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize; to Detect; as, to spot a criminal. [cant]

3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as Reputation; to asperse. My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain. Sir p. Sidney. If ever i shall close these eyes but once, may i live spotted for my Perjury. Beau. & fl. To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

Spot Spot, v. i.

Defn: to become stained with spots.