What is "rush candle"

Rush \Rush\, n. [OE. rusche, rische, resche, AS. risce, akin to LG. rusk, risch, D. & G. rusch; all probably fr. L. ruscum butcher's broom; akin to Goth. raus reed, G. rohr.]

1. (Bot.) A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species of Juncus and Scirpus.

   Note: Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rushlights.

2. The merest trifle; a straw. John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush. --Arbuthnot. Bog rush. See under Bog. Club rush, any rush of the genus Scirpus. Flowering rush. See under Flowering. Nut rush

   1. Any plant of the genus Scleria, rushlike plants with hard nutlike fruits.

   2. A name for several species of Cyperus having tuberous roots.

      Rush broom, an Australian leguminous plant ( Viminaria denudata), having long, slender branches. Also, the Spanish broom. See under Spanish.

      Rush candle, See under Candle.

      Rush grass, any grass of the genus Vilfa, grasses with wiry stems and one-flowered spikelets.

      Rush toad (Zo["o]l.), the natterjack.

      Scouring rush. (Bot.) Same as Dutch rush, under Dutch.

      Spike rush, any rushlike plant of the genus Eleocharis, in which the flowers grow in dense spikes.

      Sweet rush, a sweet-scented grass of Arabia, etc. ( Andropogon sch[oe]nanthus), used in Oriental medical practice.

      Wood rush, any plant of the genus Luzula, which differs in some technical characters from Juncus.

Candle \Can"dle\, n. [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. cand["e]re 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.

n. a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick [syn: rushlight]