A
grizzled marking is, in common usage, an intermixing of colors, not in any
distinct patches or patterns such as
piebald, but a
blending of the colors together. In the most literal sense with the word's roots, the word is related to a greyish result, but can be used to indicate any blending of colors in this manner. Grizzle can be either colors naturally blended, such as in hair, or it can be a collection of
tiny dots and blotches on top of a
base color, as is the case with a
grizzled betta.
A roan horse--black and white hairs intermixed--is technically grizzled, as is a man's beard when it starts growing grey hairs in with the normal colors. From a distance a grizzled hue may appear a solid color, but up close the distinct colors can be seen.