punctulateadj.
/ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃʊlət/, /ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃᵿleɪt/, /ˈpʌŋ(k)tjʊlət/, /ˈpʌŋ(k)tjᵿleɪt/, U.S. /ˈpəŋ(k)(t)ʃələt/, /ˈpəŋ(k)(t)ʃəˌleɪt/ Zoology and Botany.
Marked or studded with tiny dots or puncta; minutely punctate.In Botany now frequently in combination with modifying word, as pellucid-punctulate, punctulate-papillose, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > spot of colour > [adjective] > speckling > speckled
freckledc1380
specked1382
specky1382
splecked1382
peckleda1400
speckleda1400
pleckedc1410
frecknyc1440
sparkled1480
spurtled1513
sprittleda1522
spreckled1535
speckle1536
pickled1552
spink1558
bespecked1565
spanged1582
spinked1588
spangled1590
dotted1601
bespeckled1607
peppery1610
peppered1694
fleckled1700
spankled1703
speckly1705
pounced1727
punctulateda1728
dotty1795
punctulate1845
naevose1847
peckly1859
polka-dotted1872
stippled1876
oatmeal1880
guttulate1887
naevous1890
stipply1892
thrush-breast1896
skittery1955
1845 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 9 240 This shell may be readily distinguished from all its fossil congeners by its diaphanous substance and punctulate surface.
1870 J. D. Hooker Student's Flora Brit. Islands 309 Fruit black, punctulate.
1910 H. H. Haines Forest Flora Chota Nagpur 399 F[icus] Rumphii..often confused with the next from which it may be distinguished by the base hardly ever cordate..and by the surface being minutely punctulate.
1936 Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 62 87 Propleurae sparsely punctulate and quite smooth.
1960 Amer. Midland Naturalist 64 51 Elytra elongate oval..; margin finely reflexed..; longitudinal striae shallow, faintly punctulate.
1998 Taxon 47 323 Capsules..subglobose-depressed, with deep furrows..; coccae rounded, smooth, punctulate-papillose or rugulate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
punctulatev.
/ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃʊleɪt/, /ˈpʌŋ(k)tjʊleɪt/, U.S. /ˈpəŋ(k)(t)ʃəˌleɪt/ Chiefly Zoology and Botany.
transitive. To mark with small points or dots. Usually in passive. Cf. punctulated adj.
ΚΠ
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Punctulate, to mark with small spots.
1794 W. Hayes Portraits Rare & Curious Birds I. 22 Each feather on the side of the neck, the coverts of the wings, the belly, and the end of the tail, are punctulated with white points.
a1856 H. Miller Cruise of Betsey (1859) i. xiii. 245 Among the other remains of these beds I found..a curious dermal plate punctulated with thick-set depressions.
1871 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 1869–70 11 465 Color white, a broad lateral silver band punctulated with strong black dots.
1914 Copeia 12 2 Ground color, gray, lighter beneath, punctulated with black dots.
1982 Watsonia 14 13 Oenothera cambrica Rostański... Stem 60–100 cm..green or reddish, strongly punctulated with red splotches.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1845v.1775