from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rush \Rush\, n. [OE. rusche, rische, resche, AS. risce, akin to
LG. rusk, risch, D. & G. rusch; all probably fr. L. ruscum
butcher's broom; akin to Goth. raus reed, G. rohr.]
1. (Bot.) A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing
endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species
of {Juncus} and {Scirpus}.
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Note: Some species are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting
mats, and the pith is used in some places for wicks to
lamps and rushlights.
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2. The merest trifle; a straw.
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John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
--Arbuthnot.
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{Bog rush}. See under {Bog}.
{Club rush}, any rush of the genus {Scirpus}.
{Flowering rush}. See under {Flowering}.
{Nut rush}
(a) Any plant of the genus {Scleria}, rushlike plants with
hard nutlike fruits.
(b) A name for several species of {Cyperus} having
tuberous roots.
{Rush broom}, an Australian leguminous plant ({Viminaria
denudata}), having long, slender branches. Also, the
Spanish broom. See under {Spanish}.
{Rush candle}, See under {Candle}.
{Rush grass}, any grass of the genus {Vilfa}, grasses with
wiry stems and one-flowered spikelets.
{Rush toad} (Zool.), the natterjack.
{Scouring rush}. (Bot.) Same as {Dutch rush}, under {Dutch.}
{Spike rush}, any rushlike plant of the genus {Eleocharis},
in which the flowers grow in dense spikes.
{Sweet rush}, a sweet-scented grass of Arabia, etc.
({Andropogon schoenanthus}), used in Oriental medical
practice.
{Wood rush}, any plant of the genus {Luzula}, which differs
in some technical characters from {Juncus}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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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