Also 6–8 candle’s.
1. The end piece of a burnt-down candle, which remains in the socket of the candlestick.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., vi. (1870), 141. Whan I ete candels ends, I am at a feest.
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev. (1708), 65. We should be perpetually at Daggers-drawing about the Brands and Candle-Ends, which they would still be filching, and laying out of the way.
1732. Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 292. When Hopkins dies, a thousand lights attend The wretch, who living sav’d a candle’s end.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 194–5. How Voltaire put his host’s candle-ends into his pocket.
† b. To drink off (or eat) candle-ends: a romantic extravagance in drinking a lady’s health by which gallants gave token of their devotion. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 267. Dol. Why doth the Prince loue him so then? Fal. Because … hee … eates Conger and Fennell, and drinkes off Candles ends for Flap-dragons.
a. 1626. Fletcher, M. Thomas, II. ii. (N.). Carouse her health in cans and candle-ends.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Masque Moon, in Dodsley, VI. 62 (N.). But none that will hang themselves for love, or eat candle’s-ends, as the sublunary lovers do.
† c. To rate by candle-end: see CANDLE 5 d.
1687. J. M., Elegy to Cleveland, 51, Wks. 283. The Cause by Candles-end he did not rate, When others Pens did Truth assassinate.
2. fig. A thing of short duration or of little value; a trifle, fragment, scrap. Usually pl.
a. 1626. Fletcher, Hum. Lieut., III. v. (R.). We are but spans, and candles-ends.
1841. Orderson, Creoleana, ii. 16. A saving of cheese parings and candle ends.
1860. Sala, Lady Chesterf., v. 81. This nip-cheese, candle-end saving … principle.
