stencil

¹sten·cil

noun \ˈsten(t)-səl\

Definition of STENCIL

1

: an impervious material (as a sheet of paper, thin wax, or woven fabric) perforated with lettering or a design through which a substance (as ink, paint, or metallic powder) is forced onto a surface to be printed

2

: something (as a pattern, design, or print) that is produced by means of a stencil

3

: a printing process that uses a stencil

Examples of STENCIL

1. The walls of the living room had a delicate vine stencil drawn on them.

Origin of STENCIL

probably ultimately from Middle English stanseld brightly ornamented, from Anglo-French estencelé spangled, past participle of estenceler to sparkle, from estencele spark, from Vulgar Latin *stincilla, alteration of Latin scintilla

First Known Use: 1707