Piebald Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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piebald
[ˈpaɪbɔːld ]
Definitions
descriptive appearance
Piebald refers to having irregular patches of two colors, typically black and white. It is often used to describe the coloration of animals, particularly horses or dogs, where the different patches are clearly distinct.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The piebald horse galloped across the field.
- She trained her piebald dog to perform various tricks.
- The artist painted a piebald pattern on the canvas.
animal coloration
A piebald is an animal that has a coat of two distinct colors with irregular patches. It is often a term associated with domesticated animals like horses, cattle, and sometimes pets.
Synonyms
patchy, two-tone, variegated.
Examples of usage
- The farm had a beautiful piebald among the solid-colored horses.
- Many breeders specialize in piebald varieties of dogs.
- The piebald on the ranch is quite popular for its unique look.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Origin of 'piebald'
The term 'piebald' originates from the combination of the word 'pie', meaning a mixture (as in the pie of ingredients), and 'bald', which in Middle English referred to something lacking hair or color. The term appeared in the English language around the 16th century, primarily to describe animals with a mixture of colors, predominantly white and dark shades. The imagery of a pie with various ingredients symbolizes the irregular patches of color observed in such animals. Over time, 'piebald' became more specifically associated with certain breeds of horses and dogs, and it remains a common descriptor in animal breeding and descriptions.