What is "pencil case"

Pencil \Pen"cil\, n. [OF. pincel, F. pinceau, L. penicillum, penicillus, equiv. to peniculus, dim. of penis a tail. Cf. Penicil.]

1. A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors.

   With subtile pencil depainted was this storie.
   --Chaucer.

2. A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite.

3. Hence, figuratively, an artist's ability or peculiar manner; also, in general, the act or occupation of the artist, descriptive writer, etc.

4. (Opt.) An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.

5. (Geom.) A number of lines that intersect in one point, the point of intersection being called the pencil point.

6. (Med.) A small medicated bougie.

   Pencil case, a holder for pencil lead.

   Pencil flower (Bot.), an American perennial leguminous herb ( Stylosanthes elatior).

   Pencil lead, a slender rod of black lead, or the like, adapted for insertion in a holder.

n. An object purposed to contain different stationery like pencil, rubber, correction fluid, etc.

n. a box for holding pencils [syn: pencil box]

A pencil case or pencil box is a container used to store pencils. A pencil case can also contain a variety of other stationery such as sharpeners, pens, glue sticks, erasers, scissors and rulers.

Pencil cases can be made from a variety of materials such as wood or metal. Some pencil cases have a hard and rigid shell encasing the pens inside, while others use a softer material such as plastic, leather or cotton. Soft versions are typically fastened with a zipper. Decorated versions are popular with schoolchildren depending on age and gender.

The intent of having a pencil case is for easy portability of small item such as pencil. They also contain other stationary such as pens and glue sticks. Some pencil cases double as make up bags.

Early pencil cases were round or cylindrical in shape. Some early pencil cases were decorated with jasper (one from 1860) or platinum (from 1874). In 1946, the first patent for pencil case was placed in the United States. This patent was made by Verona Pearl Amoth. He also invented many other related inventions. For example, he invented replaceable erasers for pencils.