Meaning
A small particle; a speck.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English mot, from Old English mot (“grain of sand; mote; atom”), from Proto-West Germanic *mot (“grain of dirt or sand, speck”). Perhaps linked to English mud. Compare West Frisian mot (“peat dust”), Dutch mot (“dust from turf; sawdust; grit”), Low German mut (“peat dust, grit”), Norwegian mutt (“speck; mote; splinter; chip”), Italian mota (“mud”), Spanish mota (“speck”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 19 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-06-11EGLMOTY
- 2025-11-15METOIGN
- 2025-10-11MELNOTU
- 2025-08-19OETMINZ
- 2025-06-22TENJIMO
- 2025-06-14OUDTHEM
- 2025-05-01MCPLEOT
- 2025-01-19OETGLMY
- 2024-12-03EHTNMOW
- 2024-11-15MAELOPT
- 2024-08-05MTCPEDO
- 2023-12-31MDTNEOU
+7 earlier appearances in the archive.