Sale by inch of candle

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.
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            How far that little candle throws his beams!
            So shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak.
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   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.
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   2. That which gives light; a luminary.
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            By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak.
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   {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}.
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