Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tool used by an engraver: A "pointel" is a sharp, pointed instrument specifically designed for engraving or incising lines into a hard surface, such as metal or wood.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The artisan selected a fine pointel to begin the delicate work on the silver plate.
  • An engraver's toolkit typically contains several pointels of varying thicknesses.

Advanced Usage

• While "pointel" is a specific technical term, it may appear in historical texts or detailed descriptions of traditional crafts.
  • The illustration showed the use of a pointel in the 16th-century printmaking process.

Variants and Related Words

• Point: (noun/verb) A general term for a sharp or tapered end. Not a direct variant but shares the root concept of sharpness.
• Graver: (noun) Another term for an engraving tool, often used synonymously with "pointel" in some contexts.
• Burin: (noun) A specific type of engraving tool with a steel shaft and a lozenge-shaped tip, closely related to a pointel.

Synonyms

• Engraving tool: A general term for any instrument used for engraving.
• Stylus: A pointed instrument for writing, drawing, or engraving; can be similar in function.
• Scriber: A tool for marking lines on workpieces, often used in metalworking.

Related Phrases

• To work with a pointel: To engage in the act of engraving using this specific tool.
  • The artist preferred to work with a pointel for the finest details.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "pointel" is highly specialized and is not commonly used in everyday modern English. It is primarily found in contexts related to historical art, craftsmanship, printmaking, or detailed metalwork. It refers specifically to the tool itself, not the action or the result of its use.

Noun

1. a tool used by an engraver