CANDLE

Can"dle, n. Etym: [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a

(white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. candëre to be white. See

Candid, and cf. Chandler, Cannel, Kindle.]

1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed

of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish

light.

How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in

a naughty world. Shak.

Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the

melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or by casting or running in a

mold.

2. That which gives light; a luminary.

By these blessed candles of the night. Shak.

Candle nut, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub (Aleurites triloba),

a native of some of the Pacific islands; -- socalled because, when

dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as

a candle. The oil has many uses.

-- Candle power (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas

flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle. Electric

candle, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon

rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side,

and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; -

- called also, from the name of the inventor, Jablockoff candle.

-- Excommunication by inch of candle, a form of excommunication in

which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle

burns.

-- Not worth the candle, not worth the cost or trouble.

-- Rush candle, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled

except on one side, and dipped in grease.

-- Sale by inch of candle, an auction in which persons are allowed

to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out.

-- Standard candle (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a

standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti

so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams,

per hour.

-- To curse by bell, book and candle. See under Bell.