Dappled

Etymology

Middle English, of uncertain origin. It is often linked to "dapple-grey," a horse mottled with pale rings, and possibly to "apple" — imagining the spots as apple-like — though that connection is disputed. The verb "to dapple" followed from the adjective.

adjective · /DAP-uhld/
Marked with rounded patches of light and shade, or of contrasting color.
What it names
It gives a single word for the mottled, spotty play of sunlight through leaves or the markings on an animal’s coat.
Example
Late afternoon light fell dappled across the forest floor.
Related idea
Distinct from iridescent, which shifts color with the viewing angle; dappled is simply a scattered patchwork of light and dark.