pencil
pronunciation
How to pronounce pencil in British English:
UK [ˈpensl]
How to pronounce pencil in American English:
US [ˈpensl]
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- Noun:
- a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
- graphite (or a similar substance) used in such a way as to be a medium of communication
- a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point
- a cosmetic in a long thin stick; designed to be applied to a particular part of the face
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- Verb:
- write, draw, or trace with a pencil
Word Origin
- pencil
- pencil: [14] Etymologically, a pencil is a ‘little penis’. It originally denoted a ‘paintbrush’ – the current sense ‘writing implement filled with a graphite rod’ did not emerge until the 17th century – and came via Old French pincel from Vulgar Latin *pēnicellum, an alteration of Latin pēnicillum ‘paintbrush’. This was a diminutive form of pēniculus ‘brush’, which was in turn a diminutive of pēnis. Pēnis originally meant ‘tail’ (whence the metaphor of the ‘brush’), and only by extension was it used for ‘male sex organ’ (in which sense English adopted it as penis [17]).The term penicillin [20] was based on Latin pēnicillum, in allusion to the tuft-like shape of its spore-bearing structures.=> penicillin, penis
- pencil (n.)
- early 14c., "an artist's fine brush of camel hair," from Old French pincel "artist's paintbrush" (13c., Modern French pinceau), from Latin penicillus "painter's brush, hair-pencil," literally "little tail," diminutive of peniculus "brush," itself a diminutive of penis "tail" (see penis). Small brushes formerly were used for writing before modern lead or chalk pencils; meaning "graphite writing implement" apparently evolved late 16c. Derogatory slang pencil-pusher "office worker" is from 1881; pencil neck "weak person" first recorded 1973.
- pencil (v.)
- 1530s, "to mark or sketch with a pencil-brush," from pencil (n.). In reference to lead pencils from 1760s. Related: Penciled; penciling. To pencil (something) in "arrange tentatively" is attested from 1942.
Example
- 1. This just causes the pencil to slide but not turn .
- 2. With practice , it can done mentally without paper and pencil in just a few seconds .
- 3. Show me a red pencil .
- 4. Sharpen your pencil . Show me your eraser .
- 5. Marked with a fingernail or a pencil .