mottled pattern; patchy pattern
Describes a surface with irregular spots or patches of different colors or shades, like the coat of an animal or a stained surface.
That cat has a black-and-white mottled pattern.
A patchy stain has formed on the wall.
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; the kanji 斑 is less frequently used in modern writing.
Full kanji spelling; 斑 is a non-jōyō kanji, so this form is less common but still encountered.
Compound of まだら (mottled, spotted) and 模様 (pattern, design). まだら is a native Japanese word of uncertain origin, possibly related to 斑 (still read まだら) meaning 'spots'.