candle-endn.
/ˈkand(ə)lˌɛnd/ 1. † b. to drink off (or eat) candle-ends: a romantic extravagance in drinking a lady's health by which gallants gave token of their devotion. Obsolete.† c. to rate by candle-end: see candle n. Phrases 4.
a. The end piece of a burnt-down candle, which remains in the socket of the candlestick.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > candle > [noun] > end piece
candle-enda1549
doup1710
a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) vi. 141 Whan I ete candels ends, I am at a feest.
1668 R. L'Estrange tr. F. G. de Quevedo y Villegas Visions (1708) 65 The Brands and Candle-Ends, which they would still be filching, and laying out of the way.
1733 A. Pope Of Use of Riches 15 When H*p*s dies, a thousand Lights attend The Wretch, who living sav'd a Candle's end.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire iv. 184 How Voltaire put his host's candle-ends into his pocket.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > drink toasts or healths
hailc1275
to drink (a person's) hailc1325
to drink good lucka1529
pledge1546
carouse1583
skola1599
to drink off (or eat) candle-ends1600
health1628
to begin to a person1629
bumper1691
toast1699
to drink hob or nob, hob a nob1756
hob-nob1763
hobber-nob1800
to look towards (a person)1833
propine1887
ganbei1940
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. iv. 248 Dol Why does the prince loue him so then? Fal. Because..a..eates cunger and fennel, and drinkes off candles endes for flappe-dragons. View more context for this quotation
a1625 J. Fletcher Monsieur Thomas (1639) ii. i. sig. D2v Carowse her health in Cans and candles ends.
a1637 B. Jonson Newes from New World 220 in Wks. (1640) III But none that will hang themselves for Love, or eate candles ends,..as the Sublunary Lovers doe.
ΚΠ
1687 J. M. Elegy to Cleveland in J. Cleveland Wks. 283 The Cause by Candles-end he did not rate, When others Pens did Truth assassinate.
2. figurative. A thing of short duration or of little value; a trifle, fragment, scrap. Usually plural.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth
ivy-leafc1000
needle?c1225
sloec1250
peasea1275
strawc1290
bean1297
nutc1300
buttonc1330
leekc1330
trifle1375
cress1377
goose-wing1377
sop1377
niflec1395
vetcha1400
a pin's head (also point)c1450
trump1513
plack1530
toy1530
blue point1532
grey groat1546
cherry-stone1607
jiggalorum1613
candle-enda1625
peppercorn1638
sponge1671
sneeshing1686
snottera1689
catchpenny1705
potato1757
snuff1809
pinhead1828
traneen1837
a hill of beans1863
gubbins1918
a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iii. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr3 v/1 We are but spans, and candles ends.
1841 J. W. Orderson Creoleana ii. 16 A saving of cheese parings and candle ends.
1860 G. A. Sala Lady Chesterfield's Lett. v. 81 This nip-cheese, candle-end saving..principle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.a1549