Laikku

Laikku is a Finnish noun that designates an irregular patch, blotch, or stain on a surface or material. The term is used for marks that are not uniform or circular, such as a dried spill, a paint blotch, or a patch on fabric. It can also describe natural color patterns, for example irregular patches on animal fur or plant leaves.

Origin and related terms: Laikku is a native Finnic word with long-standing use in Finnish. The precise etymology is uncertain, and there are no widely recognized cognates outside Finnish. In usage, laikku sits between broader terms for marks such as täplä (spot) and pilkku (speck).

Usage: In everyday language and descriptive prose, laikku commonly refers to stains and patches on tangible objects, including clothing, furniture, and walls, as well as to irregular color patterns in nature or art. It is often used to convey imperfection or irregularity rather than a simple dot or line.

See also: Täplä, Pilkku. In broader linguistic contexts, the concept of a blotch or irregular patch appears in various languages with terms that describe similar irregular markings.