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Added 8 October 2026

pencil

/ˈpɛnsəl/ noun

In Latin: praeductal, graphis, plumbum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pencil at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
A family of geometric objects with a common property, such as the set of lines that pass through a given point in a projective plane.

verb

To write (something) using a pencil.
I penciled (BrE: pencilled) a brief reminder in my notebook.
To mark with, or as if with, a pencil.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman and Old French pincil (see the variant pincel, which gave rise to Modern French pinceau (“paintbrush”)), from Latin pēnicillum, diminutive of pēniculus (“brush”), itself a diminutive of pēnis (“tail; penis”). Doublet of penis. Not related to pen.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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