subs. (Winchester College).—1. A humorous corruption of the word ‘candidate.’
1866. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 175. Each of these [the Electors] had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there were generally about twelve, but always many more ‘Candidates’ (or CANDLESTICKS, as they were often called).
1878. H. C. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p. 418. CANDLESTICK, merely a facetious version of ‘candidate.’
2. pl. (London).—The fountains in Trafalgar Square.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I., p. 529. There was his (Nelson’s) pillar at Charing Cross, just by the CANDLESTICKS (fountains).
