What is the difference between speckled and spotted in the following context:
I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep,
and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my
hire. – Gen. 30:32 AVI did research in a few dictionaries and yet can not grasp the distinction between the two.
For example, W3 provides the following definition for speckled: covered or marked with speckles : spotted
SOED states the following:
Covered or marked with (numerous) speckles; variegated or flecked with
spots of a contrasting colourNot too much help comes from OED:
Covered, dotted, or marked with (numerous) speckles or specks;
variegated or flecked with spots of a different colour from that of
the main body; spottedFor a non-native speaker, these definitions don’t provide a clear distinction between the two words, they seem to be synonymous.
Answer
Depends on size and regularity
Spotted
covered in small, usually round areas of colour:
a spotted toad
She was wearing a black and white spotted dress.
covered with speckles:
a bird with a speckled breast
The floor was speckled under where he had painted
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : highvit , Answer Author : mplungjan