mote (3), mot, moote

[A.S. mot.] A particle of dust, a speck, a spot; anything proverbially small. "These endle numbers, swarming round, Thomson: Castle of Indolence, i. 29. As thick as idle motes in sunny ray." *mõte, v. i. [MIGHT, v.] mōt-ěd, a. [Eng. mote (3), s.; -ed. ] Containing motes; filled with motes. (Used principally in composition.) "The thick- moted sunbeam lay Athwart the chambers, and the day Was sloping toward his western bower." Tennyson: Mariana, 78. *mõte'-ling, *mōat-ling, s. [Eng. mote (3), s.; dim in. suff. -ling .] A little mote. "A crowd of moatlings hums Above our heads." Sylvester: Vocation , 335.