Etymology Map
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Pencil

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a thin writing instrument

Where does the word "pencil" come from? It comes from Latin penicillus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
penicillus
Latin · ancient
"little tail, paintbrush"
a diminutive of 'penis', tail
2
Stage 2 of 3
pincel
Old French · medieval
"paintbrush"
first an artist's fine brush
3
Stage 3 of 3
pencil
English · 1300s
"a paintbrush"
graphite pencils date from the 1560s
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Read the full story

Pencil’s story begins in Latin: penicillus meant “little tail, paintbrush.” A diminutive of 'penis', tail. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pincel. First an artist's fine brush. It reached English by 1300s as pencil. Graphite pencils date from the 1560s. Today, pencil means a thin writing instrument.