decal

noun

de·​cal ˈdē-ˌkal  di-ˈkal 

Canadian usually

ˈde-kəl 

: a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper

Examples of decal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rounding out the exterior package is special badging, including a circuit board-like decal that runs from the top of the hood to the rear wing. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 July 2024

Thanks to recent college graduates John Sanchez and Arielle Lok, the fronts of five trains run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have been equipped with googly eye decals. —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024

There’s even a little indentation ON YOUR PLATE that indicates where that decal should go. —Noel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 21 June 2024

The crowd was led by a vintage blue Cadillac limo called the Texas Trump Limo with window decals that included those of President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden Hunter behind bars. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for decalcomania

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

decal

noun

de·​cal ˈdē-ˌkal  di-ˈkal 

ˈdek-əl

: a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper

Etymology

a shortened form of earlier decalcomania "the art of transferring pictures," from French décalcomanie (same meaning), from décalquer "to copy by tracing" and manie "mania, craze"