Stencil  —n. 1 (in full stencil-plate) thin sheet in which a pattern is cut, placed on a surface and printed or inked over etc. To reproduce the pattern. 2 pattern so produced. 3 waxed sheet etc. From which a stencil is made by a typewriter. —v. (-ll-; us -l-) 1 (often foll. By on) produce (a pattern) with a stencil. 2 mark (a surface) in this way. [french estanceler sparkle, from latin scintilla spark]