Pronunciation: [sˈa͡ɪkləstˌa͡ɪlɪŋ] (IPA) 
Cyclostyling is a printing method that involves stencil duplication. The word is spelled with a "y" instead of an "i" to reflect the pronunciation of the "cyclo" prefix as /saɪkloʊ/, rather than /sɪkloʊ/. The second part of the word, "styling," is spelled with a "y" instead of an "i" to maintain consistency with the first part of the word. The IPA phonetic transcription for "cyclostyling" is /ˈsaɪkləʊstaɪlɪŋ/.
Cyclostyling refers to a mechanical method of duplicating documents or reproducing images using a device called a cyclostyle machine. It is a process similar to stencil copying and was commonly used before the advent of modern photocopying technology. The term "cyclostyle" is derived from the name of the original machine invented in the late 19th century, known as the Cyclostyle.
In this process, a stencil is created by typing or drawing on a sheet of wax-coated paper or stencil paper. The wax coating allows the ink to be transferred to subsequent copies. The stencil is then attached to a rotating drum or cylinder within the cyclostyle machine. To create a copy, ink or a similar carbon-based substance is applied to the rotating drum, which is then rolled over a blank sheet of paper. The ink passes through the stencil, leaving an impression of the original document or image.
Cyclostyling was commonly used for reproducing documents in small quantities, such as handwritten letters, educational worksheets, or small-scale publications. The copies produced through this process often had a distinctive purplish-blue appearance, depending on the ink color used.
In modern times, the term "cyclostyling" has become less common due to the prevalence of digital printing and photocopying methods. However, it still holds historical significance as an early form of mechanical printing and reproduction technology.
The word cyclostyling is derived from the name of the early duplicating machine, the Cyclostyle. The Cyclostyle machine was invented in the late 19th century and was used for making multiple copies of documents by means of a stencil. The term Cyclostyle itself is a combination of the Greek word kyklos, meaning circle or round, and style, referring to a pointed instrument used for writing or engraving. The word cyclostyling has since been used generically to refer to the process of duplicating documents by stencil and has become synonymous with the term stencil duplicating.
