Crossword Genius

Fruit, at end of day, marked with blotches (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dapple

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'marked with blotches' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'fruit at end of day' is the wordplay.
'fruit' becomes 'apple' (apple is a kind of fruit).
'at end of' means one lot of letters go next to another (some letters go at the end of others).
'day' becomes 'd' (abbreviation for day).
'apple' after 'd' is 'DAPPLE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dapple that I've seen before include "mottled" , "Variegate with spots" , "spot" , "Mark with spots or patches" , "Spotted" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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