Freckled

/ˈfrɛkəld/ adjective

Definition

Having freckles; marked with small brownish spots, typically on the face or arms, especially from sun exposure.

Etymology

From Old Norse 'freknur' through Middle English 'frekne,' becoming 'freckle' in Early Modern English, then adding the adjectival '-ed' suffix (Old English '-ed'). The word traveled north with Vikings.

Kelly Says

Freckles were once considered blemishes and hidden away in Victorian times, but by the 1990s they became fashion features—showing that whether a word is positive or negative often depends more on culture than the word's actual meaning.

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