Forms: 7 flambo, -oy, 8 -oe, 7– flambeau; pl. 7 flamboys, 7–8 -o(e)s, 7– flambeaus, -eaux. [a. F. flambeau (= med.L. flambellum), f. flambe FLAME sb.]
1. A torch; esp. one made of several thick wicks dipped in wax; a lighted torch.
1632. St. Trials, Ct. Coningsmark, etc., 11. I had a Flambeau in my Hand, and was going before the Coach, and coming along, at the lower End of St. Alban’s-street, I heard the Blunderbuss go off.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 133. Others fired their flambeauxes [sic] to know the cause and glut their wonder.
1697. trans. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 148. After the Collation was ended, Flamboys were brought in.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xiv. If I did not see the dead man, as I tell you, with eyes as big and as fiery as two large flambeaux.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxv. An open grave, with four tall flambeaus, each about six feet high, placed at the corners.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xvi. Many a private chair too, inclosing some fine lady, monstrously hooped and furbelowed, and preceded by running-footmen bearing flambeaux.
b. A fire-signal or beacon.
1688. Wood, Life (1894), III. 533. A great flambo on Combs his house at the end of St. John’s Street, which was seen as far as Newnham.
† 2. transf. and fig. (Cf. torch, firebrand.) Obs.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy (1705), 132. Receiving some benediction from the flambo’s of your Eyes, I could presently resolve to commence blindness.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. ccxxvi. (1693), 220. Would you in good earnest have us Repeal our Laws of Correction against such dangerous Flambeaux?
1685. Gracian’s Courtiers Orac., 54. The sayings of Alexander are the Flamboes of his deeds.
3. A large decorated candlestick.
(In. mod. Dicts.)
4. South. U.S. ‘One of the set of kettles used in the open-kettle process of sugar-making, so called because the flames of the furnace strike it with most force’ (Cent. Dict.). [So in Fr.]
5. attrib. and Comb., as flambeau-bearer, -light.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson’s Funeral, 25. The men worked by candle and flambeau light during the whole night, and such was the anxiety to see this highly interesting ceremony, that many persons had taken their seats long before day-light.
1859. Dickens, T. Two Cities, II. ix. Monsieur the Marquis, with his flambeau-bearer going on before, went up the staircase to a door in a corridor.
Hence Flambeaued ppl. a., furnished with or lighted by flambeaux.
1852. Meanderings of Mem., I. 166. Flambeaued folly of the long procession.
