Dapple (6)
I believe the answer is:
mottle
'dapple' is the definition.
(I know that dapple can be written as mottle)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for mottle that I've seen before include "Mark with patches of colour" , "Irregular arrangement of patches of colour" , "Variegated pattern" , "Colour with blotches of different shades" , "Colour blotchily" .)