- stencil (n.)
- 1707, not recorded again until 1848, probably from Middle English stencellen "decorate with bright colors," from Middle French estenceler "cover with sparkles or stars, powder with color," from estencele "spark, spangle," from Vulgar Latin *stincilla, metathesis of Latin scintilla "spark."
- stencil (v.)
- "to produce a design with a stencil," 1861, from stencil (n.). Related: Stenciled; stenciling.