candelabrumn.
/kandɪˈleɪbrəm//kandɪˈlɑːbrəm/ 1. Ancient Greek History and Roman History.
a. A candlestick, usually an ornamental one.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > candle > support or holder for a candle > [noun] > candlestick
candlestickc970
candle-staffc1000
stander1325
chandelabrec1430
canstick1546
stick1547
candelabrum1876
torchère1910
1876 H. N. Humphreys Coin Coll. Man. xxvi. 397 Bronze candelabra of Etrurian workmanship.
b. A stand on which lamps were supported.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > [noun] > lamp > stand or mat for
light stand1817
candelabrum1834
lamp-mat1842
lamp-stand1893
lamp-standard1908
1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last Days of Pompeii III. iv. vi*. 18 One of those tall and graceful candelabra common to that day, supporting a single lamp.
2. An ornamental branched candlestick holding a number of candles; a chandelier.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > candle > support or holder for a candle > [noun] > candelabrum
branch1525
principal1548
candle-branch1599
lustre1682
chandelier1736
pharos1806
candelabrum1815
cluster-candlestick1859
lampadary1885
1815 Edinb. Rev. 25 106 Some of these [cacti]..divided into several branches in the form of candelabras.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. vii*. 103 Four silver candelabras, holding great waxen torches.
1841 R. W. Emerson Art in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 361 Galleries of statues, vases..and candelabra.
3. Simple attributive. Also prefixed (in form candelabrum or candelabra) to the names of trees with foliage shaped like a candelabrum, esp. a tropical African tree of the genus Euphorbia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > spurges and allies > [noun]
physic nut1657
milk-bush1696
milk-tree1698
poison-bush1740
jatropha1754
milky-hedge1773
milk hedge1780
chandelier plant1827
Jew bush1830
candelabrum1834
poinsettia1836
slipper-plant1848
coquillo1851
zebra poison1871
oil tree1879
picture-tree1885
slipper spurs1887
monkey fiddle1913
milk plant1965
stringwood-
1834 T. Pringle Afr. Sketches vi. 209 The lofty candelabra-shaped euphorbias towering above the copses of evergreens.
1878 R. J. Hinton Hand-bk. Arizona 343 To what age the candelabra cactus attains is a matter of mere conjecture, their growth being exceedingly slow.
1892 J. G. Bourke On Border with Crook 53 The majestic ‘pitahaya’, or candelabrum cactus, whose ruby fruit had long since been raided upon.
1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Candelabrum tree.
1927 D. H. Lawrence Mornings in Mexico 80 Even the organ cactus,..and the candelabrum cactus, seem to be slowly wheeling and pivoting upon a centre.
1946 J. P. R. Wallis North. Goldfields Diaries T. Baines I. 170 Euphorbia ingenus or candelabra tree.
1957 Timber Technol. LXV. 467 Botanical name: Euphorbia spp... Trade name: Candelabra tree... All species resemble each other in their giant cactus or candelabra formation.
1960 Guardian 7 Nov. 1/3 They had chased the Masai beyond the candelabra tree.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
<
n.1815