café au lait spot

noun

: any of the brown spots usually on the trunk, pelvis, and creases of the elbow and knees that are often numerous in neurofibromatosis

—usually plural

Café au lait spots look like big freckles and range in size from a cornflake to a football.

—Barbara Bailey Kelley

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

café au lait spot

noun

ca·​fé au lait spot

ka-ˈfā-ō-ˈlā-

: any of the medium brown spots usually on the trunk, pelvis, and creases of the elbow and knees that are often numerous in neurofibromatosis

—usually used in plural