Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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}.

   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.

   2. The merest trifle; a straw.

            John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.

   {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} (Zo["o]l.), 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 sch[oe]nanthus}), used in Oriental medical
      practice.

   {Wood rush}, any plant of the genus {Luzula}, which differs
      in some technical characters from {Juncus}.

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.

            How far that little candle throws his beams! So
            shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak.

   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.

   2. That which gives light; a luminary.

            By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak.

   {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}.

Source : WordNet®

rush candle
     n : a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick [syn: {rushlight}]