RUSH CANDLE Meaning and
Definition
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A rush candle is a utilitarian lighting device traditionally made from the pithy center of a rush plant. It is a cylindrical, elongated shape consisting of a bundle of dried rushes tightly bound together. The plant material is carefully selected and stripped of its outer layers to reveal the inner core, which serves as the wick. Rush candles commonly measure between 6 to 12 inches in length and vary in diameter.
To use a rush candle, the bound rushes are dipped in tallow or a similar combustible substance, allowing the wick to absorb the fuel. Once lit, the wick slowly burns, steadily releasing a sputtering flame and producing a modest amount of light. Rush candles were historically popular in rustic and rural areas where wax and oil lamps were less readily available or affordable.
Traditionally, rush candles were used for practical purposes such as lighting rural homes, cottages, and barns. Additionally, rush candles often served as portable light sources, accompanying travelers on their journeys. They held particular value during times of limited daylight or when there was a need for an immediate light source. While rush candles have lost their prominence in modern times due to the prevalence of electric lighting, they remain an important historical artifact, shedding light on the resourcefulness and ingenuity of past generations.
Common Misspellings for RUSH CANDLE
- eush candle
- dush candle
- fush candle
- tush candle
- 5ush candle
- 4ush candle
- rysh candle
- rhsh candle
- rjsh candle
- rish candle
- r8sh candle
- r7sh candle
- ruah candle
- ruzh candle
- ruxh candle
- rudh candle
- rueh candle
- ruwh candle
- rusg candle
Etymology of RUSH CANDLE
The word "rush candle" comes from the combination of two different words: "rush" and "candle".
- "Rush" refers to a plant known as "rushes" (genus Juncus), which grows in wetlands or marshy areas. These plants have long, slender stems that were historically used as a source of light.
- "Candle" derives from the Latin word "candela", meaning "a light". The term originally referred to a cylindrical piece of wax with a central wick, used for illumination.
Therefore, "rush candle" specifically refers to a type of candle made from the stems of rushes. In the past, these rushes were dipped in fat or tallow to create a makeshift candle. Rush candles were commonly used in a variety of cultural contexts, particularly during periods when other sources of illumination were scarce or expensive.
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