candēla, ae, f. [candeo; Fr. chandelle, Engl. candle; hence], a light made of wax or tallow, a wax-light, tallow-candle, taper.
I Lit., Varr. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 727; Col. 2, 22, 3; as a light of the poor, diff. from lucerna, used by the rich, Mart. 14, 43.— Hence, brevis, Juv. 3, 287: ancilla lucernae, Mart. 14, 40; of peeled rushes, used in funeral processions, Plin. 16, 37, 70, § 178; Pers. 3, 103.—
II Meton.
A Fire : candelam apponere valvis, to set fire to the doors , Juv. 9, 98 (cf. id. 13, 146).—
B A cord covered with wax (which preserved it from decay): in alterā (arcā) duo fasces candelis involuti septenos habuere libros, Liv. 40, 29, 6 Weissenb. ad loc.; cf. Hem. ap. Plin. 13, 13, 27, § 86; used in cleansing and polishing, Plin. 33, 7, 40, § 122; cf. Vitr. 7, 9, 3.