Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DAP'PLE, a. [most probably allied to tabby, and from dipping, or to W. davnu, to drop. The word signifies spotted, and spots are often from dropping or sprinkling.]

Marked with spots; spotted; variegated with spots of different colors or shades of color, as, a dapple-bay or dapple-gray; applied to a horse or other beast. It may sometimes express streaked, but this is not its true signification.