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stencil

Pronunciation: /ˈstɛnsɪl/

The English word “stencil” has 4 meanings listed here.

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.

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.

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