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pencil crayon
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
n. — often Education
a pencil with a coloured core (see Image 1).
Type: 2. Preservation — Pencil crayon is most likely a North American creation for what is elsewhere called a "colo(u)ring pencil" or "colo(u)red pencil". Pencil crayon appears to be an American innovation that has been preserved in Canada, with the earliest quotation found in The New York Times in 1906. The earliest UK evidence is from 1965; the earliest Canadian quotation is from 1956 (see the quotation below).
The frequency of use in Canada is more than double the use in both the US and Britain (see Chart 1), which makes this a Canadianism by virtue of Frequency (Type 5) in addition to Preservation (Type 2). The frequency in Australia is also a bit higher, which poses some questions. While the scenario of an American influence in Australia is possible, given the discourse around the Americanization of Australian English vocabulary, it is somewhat unlikely in this case.
See also COD-2, s.v. "pencil crayon", which labels the term "Cdn", and OED-3, which lists it as "chiefly North American".
See also COD-2, s.v. "pencil crayon", which labels the term "Cdn", and OED-3, which lists it as "chiefly North American".
Note that the Canadian branches of international chains accommodate to the Canadian term pencil crayon without having to rewrite much of their supply chain database. As seen in Image 2, the search term "pencil crayon" produces the full range of results for what is, obviously, in the Staples system, called "coloured pencil".
Quotations
1956
CRAYONS
Dandy assortment of colourful Wax and Pencil Crayons, ideal for back to school.
10 c to 29c
1981
Not that they all do a great job. One of my first teachers helped prepare us for future careers as stockbrokers and plumbers by cooing things like, "Color the lambie pink. I think pink is the cutest color of all." My Grade 3 teacher considered Jesus Christ the only man who met her standard of behavior. She would sometimes disapprove of the manner in which the boys would push to be first in line. "Do you know what Jesus had?" she would ask. "I'll tell you what he had. He had courtesy." Reducing everything the Son of God stood for to not trying to be first in the recess line, or to sharing your pencil crayons was perhaps easy for young minds to understand, but it certainly did little to stretch them.
1989
Laszlo Gal, a celebrated illustrator of children's books, has used water color and pencil crayon to create a magical world. His enchanting illustrations have in the past won him both the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and the Canada Council Children's Literature Prize for Illustration.
1994
Their top suggestion? Gift certificates. From a music store for a cassette or CD, a theatre chain for movie admission, or a sportswear shop for a ballcap. Hard to go wrong here.
Other ideas (pick the appropriate gender): Candy or chocolates; quality paints or pencil crayons; humor books; "magic-eye'' 3-D posters; toiletries such as bath bubbles or fancy soaps; calendars; blank cassette tapes.
2004
Color Photo: The Thermos brand Kitty Kats Lunch Bag and Thermos retails for $12.98 at Bureau en Gros. ; Color Photo: These funky notepads, made by Clairefontaine, have plastic covers and will survive a backpack. Color Photo: Faber-Castell makes Jumbo Pencil Crayons and a sharpener that accepts three sizes of pencil. Color Photo: The Nike zipper binder ($12.95 at Bureau en Gros) has a six-subject expansion file inside and side pockets. Color Photo: Lipstick Erasers, by California's Marcel Schuman, add sass to the pencil case. Color Photo: Daisy Erasers, by Marcel Schuman, are a fun and colourful alternative. Color Photo: The Gold Digger Stationary Set by David and Goliath makes a statement. Color Photo: The Connector Colour Markers, made by Faber-Castell, clip together so they're hard to lose.
2008
CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
ART WORKSHOPS - Robson - Inspiring Minds Fine Art; located at Windborne B&B is hosting 1/2 day to 3-day art workshops now to Oct. This is the time of year to put your camera into action plus paint landscapes with warm, luscious colors using your images. Instruction is available in acrylics, watercolours, pencil crayon and soft pastels or oils. Contact Mirja at 1-877-365-6693 for more info.
2008
Gary Clement has exchanged the Laurentian pencil crayons of his youth for the more adult medium of watercolours, but his subject matter has completed its orbit and returned to the launch point.
Clement, the National Post's editorial cartoonist and an artist who moonlights as an instructor at the Ontario College of Art and Design, returns to his childhood obsession with My Space, opening tomorrow at Toronto's Loop Gallery. The images represent his attempt to relive the excitement of the space race through the grown-up eyes of a 48-year-old.
2011
I noticed in a post below that several posters said "coloured pencils" (although without the "u" I guess...) instead of pencil crayons. Is pencil crayons just a Canadian thing or does what you call them vary from state to state? Just curious...
2015
The back-to-school supply lists for a student entering Grade 6-8 add up in a hurry:
6 blue/black pens: $2
2 red pens: $2
Markers: $6
Crayons: $6
Pencil crayons: $4
Pencil case: $4
4 large glue sticks: $10
8 Duo Tangs: $8
1-inch non-zippered binder: $6
5 packages of loose leaf paper: $10
1 package of dividers: $2
3 packages of sticky notes: $4
References
- OED-3
- COD-2
Images
Image 1: Pencil crayons. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: Evan-Amos
Image 2: Results for a search for pencil crayons on staples.ca (20 Jul. 2016)
