Stencilling

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 9: Bound to Swansea, p. 716

Stencilling, a method of printing letters or designs. The process consists in cutting out the pattern in a thin plate, usually of metal; this is then laid on the surface intended to receive it, and the colour is rubbed into the cut space with a brush, the plate preventing the contact of the colour, except on the space cut out. It is much used for wall and other surface-decoration, as it is a rapid and cheap process.

Source scan(s): p. 0735