Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A candle consisting of a rush wick in tallow.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A rush-candle.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A rush candle, or its light; hence, a small, feeble light.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a type of inexpensive candle, historically used, formed by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in fat or grease, which emits light for a relatively short period of time.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In the early 1900s, the philosopher Donald Davidson said: “He who thinks to illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about to illuminate the universe with a rushlight.”
The Master Key System Charles F. Haanel 2008
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Professor Davidson says: “He who thinks to illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about to illuminate the universe with a rushlight.”
The Master Key System Charles F. Haanel 2008
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She stood up and reached for a rushlight, uncertain whether to shout for help.
Archive 2008-08-01 2008
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Professor Davidson says: “He who thinks to illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about to illuminate the universe with a rushlight.”
The Master Key System Charles F. Haanel 2008
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Professor Davidson says: “He who thinks to illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about to illuminate the universe with a rushlight.”
The Master Key System Charles F. Haanel 2008
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She stood up and reached for a rushlight, uncertain whether to shout for help.
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He smiled, but it was more like a wince, and as the rushlight fell past his hood and illuminated his features, Maerad saw that he was gray with exhaustion.
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The ostler and humpbacked postilion, one bearing a stable-lantern and a hay-fork, the other a rushlight and a broom, constituted the advanced guard; Mrs. Dods herself formed the centre, talking loud and brandishing a pair of tongs; while the two maids, like troops not to be much trusted after their recent defeat, followed, cowering in the rear.
Saint Ronan's Well 2008
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He smiled, but it was more like a wince, and as the rushlight fell past his hood and illuminated his features, Maerad saw that he was gray with exhaustion.
Archive 2008-08-01 2008
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In the early 1900s, the philosopher Donald Davidson said: “He who thinks to illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about to illuminate the universe with a rushlight.”
The Master Key System Charles F. Haanel 2008
yarb commented on the word rushlight
Thereupon, flying into a passion, be gave me half-a-dozen boxes on the ear, in such a style, as to kindle an illumination in my blinking eyes, to which the glories of Solomon's temple were no more to be compared, than the torches in a Candlemas procession to a rushlight. There is for you, you little scoundrel! said he; take that, and learn to mind your business. Must I be eternally at your heels to remind you of what you are to do? Are your brains in your belly, and all your wits in your grinders?
- Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 10 ch. 10
October 10, 2008