sten·cil / ˈstensəl/ • n. a thin sheet of cardboard, plastic, or metal with a pattern or letters cut out of it, used to produce the cut design on the surface below by the application of ink or paint through the holes. ∎  a design produced by such a sheet: a floral stencil around the top of the room.• v. (-ciled, -cil·ing; Brit. -cilled, -cil·ling) [tr.] decorate (a surface) with such a design: the walls had been stenciled with designs| [as n.] (stenciling) the art of stenciling. ∎  produce (a design) with a stencil: stencil a border around the door | [as adj.] (stenciled) the stenciled letters.

stencil.
1. Thin sheet of metal, card, etc., in which holes have been cut, of such shape as when a paint-brush is applied, patterns are created on the wall behind.

2. Pattern produced by stencilling, often found in Gothic Revival interiors.

stencil †ornament with bright colours XIV; (from the sb.) produce with a stencil plate XVIII. ME. stansel, stencel — OF. estanceler, estenceler, f. estencele (mod. étincelle) :- Rom. *stincilla, for L. scintilla spark.
Hence stencil sb. perforated plate for producing a pattern. XVIII.