Pronunciation: [dˈapə͡lz] (IPA) 
The word "dapples" is spelled with two p's because the vowel sound that precedes the second p is a short 'uh' sound (represented by the IPA symbol ʌ). When a short 'uh' sound follows a consonant, it usually requires an additional consonant to signal the vowel's short nature. Thus, the word is spelled with two p's instead of just one. "Dapples" is a verb that describes the pattern of spots or patches on something, such as a horse's coat.
Dapples, as a noun, refer to the irregular patches or spots of light and shade that are created on a surface, typically by the interplay of sunlight and shadow. These patches are characterized by a mottled or dappled appearance, often resembling small, random shapes or patterns. Dapples are commonly observed in natural settings, such as when sunlight filters through a dense canopy of trees and creates flickering spots of shadow on the ground, or when light passes through a translucent object and forms a textured pattern on a nearby surface.
As a verb, "dapples" describes the action of creating or being covered with these spots or patches of light and shade. It implies the scattering or distribution of light in a way that produces these distinctive markings. For example, a forest floor may become dappled when the sunlight filters through the leaves, causing the ground to be covered in a patchwork of light and shadow.
The term "dapples" is often associated with natural landscapes, as well as with the play of light and shadow. It can also be used metaphorically to describe other surfaces or materials that exhibit a similar patchy or mottled appearance, such as the dappling of paint on a canvas or the dappled coat of a horse.
The word "dapples" has originated from the Middle English word "daplen", which was derived from the Old Norse word "depla". The meaning of "daplen" was "to make spots or stripes". It ultimately can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "dapjaną", meaning "to dye or color".
