Pencilful
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The amount that can be held in a pencil (medicinal bougie). no-plural, obsolete
"A ſmall vial of diſtilled verdigriſe, which is a fine ſea-green: 11th. Some gum Arabic diſſolved in water. Theſe particulars are to be had at colour ſhops: where the colours in lumps, or liquids, are generally prepared with a ſufficient quantity of gum in them; but thoſe in powders muſt have a pencilful or two of gum water put to them, when they are uſed."
- 2 The amount of paint, water, ink, etc. that can be held on a paintbrush. historical, no-plural
"We would suggest that quick-drying striping color, for fine lining, be ground stiff in oil, and then turpentine and japan be mixed, and kept in a small vessel, so that in the operation of striping each pencilful of color may be supplied with the quantity of drier requisite to insure its drying."
- 3 The quantity of lead (or graphite) that fills a pencil. no-plural
"How about taking a penful of ink or a pencil[-]ful of lead and giving us your real name and address so that your note can be answered?"
- 4 The amount that can be written with a pencil. no-plural
"It is not my intention to throw even a pencilful of fun at the country boy."
Example
More examples"A ſmall vial of diſtilled verdigriſe, which is a fine ſea-green: 11th. Some gum Arabic diſſolved in water. Theſe particulars are to be had at colour ſhops: where the colours in lumps, or liquids, are generally prepared with a ſufficient quantity of gum in them; but thoſe in powders muſt have a pencilful or two of gum water put to them, when they are uſed."
Etymology
From pencil + -ful.
More for "pencilful"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.