| Pencil | n. [ OF. pincel, F. pinceau, L. penicillum, penicillus, equiv. to peniculus, dim. of penis a tail. Cf. Penicil. ] 1. A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors. [ 1913 Webster ] With subtile pencil depainted was this storie. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, graphite, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Hence, figuratively, an artist's ability or peculiar manner; also, in general, the act or occupation of the artist, descriptive writer, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Opt.) An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Geom.) A number of lines that intersect in one point, the point of intersection being called the pencil point. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Med.) A small medicated bougie. [ 1913 Webster ]
Pencil case, a holder for pencil lead. --
Pencil flower (Bot.), an American perennial leguminous herb (Stylosanthes elatior). --
Pencil lead, a slender rod of black lead, or the like, adapted for insertion in a holder. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Pencil | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Penciled r Pencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Penciling or Pencilling. ] To write or mark with a pencil; to paint or to draw. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ] Where nature pencils butterflies on flowers. Harte. [ 1913 Webster ]
pencil in to write (a tentative appoinment) on an appointment calendar, so as to reserve time, but to allow the appointment to be readily canceled and replaced with another; -- also used figuratively, with other means of recording appointments. The notion being that something written in pencil can be more easily changed than something written in ink. The phrase is commonly used in the early stages of organizing a meeting of multiple persons, before it is known whether all attendees will be free at the suggested time. [ PJC ]
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| Penciled | a. [ Written also pencilled. ] 1. Painted, drawn, sketched, or marked with a pencil. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Radiated; having pencils of rays. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Nat. Hist.) Marked with parallel or radiating lines. [ 1913 Webster ] |
