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speck

1. A small discoloured place in or on anything, or a small place of a colour different from that of the main substance; a spot; a stain; a blemish; as, a speck on paper or loth; specks of decay in fruit. Gray sand, with black specks.

2. A very small thing; a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money. Many bright specks bubble up along the blue Egean. (Landor)

3. (Science: zoology) A small etheostomoid fish (Ulocentra stigmaea) common in the Eastern united states.

Origin: OE. Spekke, AS. Specca; cf. LG. Spaak.