English Explanatory Dictionary

stencil

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A thin sheet, either perforated or using some other technique, with which a pattern may be produced upon a surface; a utensil that contains a perforated sheet.
  2. A pattern produced using such a utensil.
  3. A two-ply master sheet for use with a mimeograph.
verb
  1. To print with a stencil.

Pronunciation

/ˈstɛnsɪl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-stencil.wav /ˈstɛnsəl/

Word forms

stencil stencils stenciling stencilling stenciled stencilled

Etymology

Likely a nominalization of Middle English stencellen (“to garnish with bright hues”), borrowed from Middle French estinceller (“to glisten”), from Old French estenceler (“to spark”), from Old French estencele (“spark”), from Vulgar Latin *stincilla, from metathesis of Latin scintilla (“spark”). The verb is from the noun.

Related words

pochoir

Derived words

microstencil nanostencil stencil art stencil buffer stencil duplicator stencilmaker stencilmaking stencil work stenciler unstenciled
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