# stencil

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈstɛnsɪl/ · frequency rank #35,536

## Definitions
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.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **stench** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stench-vs-stencil)

## Common misspellings (11)
`setncil`, `sstencil`, `stecnil`, `stenccil`, `stencill`, `stencli`, `stenicl`, `stenncil`, `stnecil`, `sttencil`, `tsencil`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/stencil