English
pencil
Pencil comes from Old French pincil.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pincil
- Englishearliest quotation 1590pencil
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pincil
- Englishearliest quotation 1590pencil
Earliest quotation: 1590, Edmund Spenser, Book III, Prologue: “But living art may not least part expresse, /…”
The story
Not related to pen.
Every English word from Old French pincil
Today it means
noun A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French pincil / pencil