Why are pencils called pencils?

Question

My five year old wants to know and so do I.

Answer 1

Pencil, a derivative of the Latin word pencillus for "little tail," originally described a small, fine, pointed brush.

Answer 2

The true origin of the pencil was in 1564, when a large deposit of graphite was discovered, and the sticks cut out of the material were called black lead or “plumbago,” from the Greek word for lead. It looked like lead and made marks like lead, although it certainly did not have the heft of lead. This deposit of graphite in Borrowdale in northern England was the purest one ever discovered — and one of the most valuable. The deposit was mined only six weeks a year, and armed guards escorted the excavated graphite to London, where the English Guild of Pencilmakers had a global monopoly on its product.

Answer 3

The word pencil comes from the Latin word penicillus which means "little tail".

Answer 4

Well its this simple. Pens, pencils and penis are from the same root word. If you look at them all, they share the same general description. That is why people describe their penis (street lingo) as "my pen" or "pencil"

Answer 5

I think a lot of english came from latin. I`m not sure on that though.

Answer 6

Because if they were called pens everybody would be confused.

Answer 7

Why are dogs called dogs? Why are cars called cars? Why are donkeys called donkeys?

Answer 8

Because pen was taken.

Answer 9

Is this a trick question?

Answer 10

becuz they're as thin as 'j.j. evans' from good times