Pencil

(pěn's il.) [From L. penicil lum.] (Manuf.) A small brush used by painters for applying their colors. They are of various kinds, sizes, and materials; the larger P. are made of hogs' bristles, the thick ends of which are secured to a stick or handle, and, when very large, are called brushes. The finer kinds are made of the hair of the camel, badger, marten, and squirrel, and of swans-down; they are tied at the upper end, and enclosed in a quill. All of the latter kind, when good, on being drawn between the lips, come to a fine point. Black Lead P. are thin oblong slips of black lead (plumbago or graphite), enclosed in cylindrical or prismatic pieces of cedar, and before use are cut to a point at one end. They are of different sizes and degrees of quality, according to the purposes for which they are intended. Ever-pointed P. are simply very slender cylinders of black lead so placed in metallic or other cases, that they can be screwed out at pleasure; the points being protected when out of use, and never requiring to be cut. (Opt.) A P. of rays signifies a number of rays diverging from some luminous point, which, after falling upon or pa ing through a lens, converge again to a point or focus. [s. 694]