A pencil moustache is a thin moustache found adjacent to, or a little above the lip. The style is neatly clipped, so that the moustache takes the form of a thin line, as if it had been drawn using a pencil

Pencil

A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....

. A large gap is left between the nose and the moustache. The line of facial hair either breaks across the philtrum

Philtrum

The philtrum , is a medial cleft common to many mammals, extending from the nose to the upper lip, and, together with a glandular rhinarium and slit-like nostrils, is believed to constitute the primitive condition for mammals in general...

, or continues unbroken. In some versions the line of hair extends vertically along the outside of the philtrum before stopping just below the nose, leaving the philtrum unbridged.

Cultural significance

Pencil moustaches are often identified with spiv

Spiv

In the United Kingdom, a spiv is a particular type of petty criminal, who deals in stolen or black market goods of questionable authenticity, especially a slickly-dressed man offering goods at bargain prices...

s, as epitomised by Arthur English

Arthur English

Arthur Leslie Norman English was an English actor and comedian from the music hall tradition.English was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. After serving in the army in World War II, reaching the rank of sergeant, English worked as a painter and decorator in his native town...

's comic character. As such a small and short-haired moustache style, it is easy to create in make-up, and creates a different character instantly, lending itself well to sketch show comedies. As such a short style, it is possible for an actor to grow a pencil moustache with ease for a specific part in a film. A good example of this is Rock and Chips, where Nicholas Lyndhurst

Nicholas Lyndhurst

Nicholas Simon Lyndhurst is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart, and as Adam Parkinson in Carla Lane's series Butterflies...

 was able to play Freddie Robdal, father of his Rodney Trotter

Rodney Trotter

Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...

 character from Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses

Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...

. Freddie's pencil moustache, combined with the aging of the actor, helps make the character look different to Rodney whilst retaining a strong family resemblance. The spiv connotation also highlights the criminal, adulterous and sinister sides of the Freddie character, in contrast to the likeable Rodney. The fictional character Gomez Addams

Gomez Addams

Gomez Addams is the fictional patriarch of The Addams Family, created by cartoonist Charles Addams for The New Yorker magazine in the 1930s....

 had a trademark pencil moustache and the actor Vincent Price

Vincent Price

Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...

 sometimes sported one, giving the style a spooky, horror association. The actors Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn

Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...

, David Niven

David Niven

James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...

 and Leslie Phillips

Leslie Phillips

Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...

 all had pencil moustaches, giving the style a silver-tongued and suave, if slightly caddish image. Musicians such as Little Richard

Little Richard

Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...

, Sammy Davis, Jr, Jack White

Jack White (musician)

Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...

, George Benson

George Benson

George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....

, Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...

 and Ron Mael

Ron Mael

Ronald David Mael , is an American musician and songwriter. He and his younger brother Russell, make up the pop duo Sparks.Ron Mael was born in Culver City, California. Ron plays keyboard and writes most of the songs for Sparks...

 have been associated with the look.

Singer Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett

James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...

 is well-known for his song, Pencil Thin Mustache

Pencil Thin Mustache

"Pencil Thin Mustache," originally released as "Pencil Thin Moustache," is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on Dunhill D-15011 in August 1974.It was first released on his 1974 album Living & Dying in ¾ Time...

, which glorifies that mustache style.