an implement for writing or drawing consisting of a slender strip of graphite
an implement for writing, drawing, etc, consisting of or containing a slender cylinder of a solid marking substance, e.g. graphite
a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications
a styptic pencil
a set of light rays, esp when diverging from or converging to a point
something long and thin like a pencil
a pencil of light
[Middle English pensel paintbrush, via French from Latin penicillus brush, literally ‘little tail’, dimin. of penis tail, penis]