Spot

Spot (spŏt), n. [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.) 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. 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, 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, v. i. To become stained with spots.