Chapter Candescence to Canker of C by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Candiot
(Can"di*ot) a. [Cf. F. candiote.] Of or pertaining to Candia; Cretary.

Candite
(Can"dite) n. (Min.) A variety of spinel, of a dark color, found at Candy, in Ceylon.

Candle
(Can"dle) n. [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.

Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the melted tallow, etc. 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 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.

Candleberry tree
(Can"dle*ber`ry tree) (Bot.) A shrub common in North America, the little nuts of which are covered with a greenish white wax, which was formerly, used for hardening candles; — also called bayberry tree, bayberry, or candleberry.

Candlebomb
(Can"dle*bomb`) n.

1. A small glass bubble, filled with water, which, if placed in the flame of a candle, bursts by expansion of steam.

2. A pasteboard shell used in signaling. It is filled with a composition which makes a brilliant light when it explodes. Farrow.

Candle coal
(Can"dle coal`) See Cannel coal.

Candlefish
(Can"dle*fish`) n. (Zoöl.) (a) A marine fish allied to the smelt, found on the north Pacific coast; — called also eulachon. It is so oily that, when dried, it may be used as a candle, by drawing a wick through it. (b) The beshow.

Candleholder
(Can"dle*hold`er) n. One who, or that which, holds a candle; also, one who assists another, but is otherwise not of importance. Shak.