Origin and history of spot

c. 1200, "moral stain;" by mid-14c. as "speck, stain left by something on a surface;" probably at least in part from a variant of Old English splott "a spot, blot, patch (of land)," and partly from or related to Middle Dutch spotte "spot, speck." Other cognates are East Frisian spot "speck," North Frisian spot "speck, piece of ground," Old Norse spotti "small piece," Norwegian spot "spot, small piece of land." Likely some of these Germanic words are borrowings of some of the others, but the exact evolution is unclear.

From c. 1300 as "patch or mark on the fur of an animal." The sense of "particular place, small extent of space" (on a body, etc.) is from late 14c. In general figurative use, "a blemish, defect, distinguishing mark," late 14c. Also from late 14c. as "an eruption on the skin."

The meaning "short interval in a broadcast for an advertisement or announcement" is by 1937, from earlier sense of "an act's position on a bill" 1923. Preceded by a number (as in five-spot) it originally was a term for "prison sentence" of so many years (1901, American English slang). The sense in night-spot is by 1954.

Colloquial phrase hit the spot "satisfy, be what is required" is by 1857. The adverbial phrase on the spot is attested by 1670s as "at once, without moving or delay;" 1680s as "in the precise place and time." Hence to be on the spot "doing just what is right and needed" (1884). To put (someone) on the spot "place in a difficult situation" is from 1928; to be in a spot "in difficulty" is by 1929. Spot check, made on a random sample, is attested by 1933; as a verb by 1944. Adverbial phrase spot on "completely right" attested from 1920.

mid-13c., spoten, "to mark or stain with spots" (implied in spotted); late 14c. as "to stain, sully, tarnish," from spot (n.).

The meaning "detect, catch with the eye, see and recognize," is by 1718, originally colloquial and applied to a person "marked" as criminal or suspect; the general sense is from 1860. Related: Spotting. Spotted fever is attested from 1640s, for its symptom. Spotted dick "suet pudding with currants and raisins" is attested from 1849.