sten´cil|ler

sten|cil «STEHN suhl», noun, verb, -ciled, -cil|ing or (especially British) -cilled, -cil|ling.

–n.

1. a thin sheet of metal, paper, cardboard, or other material, having letters or designs cut through it. When it is laid on a surface and ink or color is spread on, these letters or designs appear on the surface. »

I put my name on packages with a stencil.

2. the letters or designs so made.

–v.t.

1. to mark or paint (a surface) with a stencil: »

The curtains have a stenciled border.

2. to produce (letters or designs) by stencil.

╂[earlier stanesile < Old French estenceler, ultimately < Latin scintilla spark. See etym. of doublets scintilla (Cf. ↑scintilla), tinsel. (Cf. ↑tinsel)]

–sten´cil|er, especially British,

–sten´cil|ler, noun.