bugia

B3U1G2I1A1

noun

A liturgical candlestick held beside a Latin Catholic bishop or other prelate.

Scrabble 8

Meanings

nounbugia (plural bugias)

plural bugias

  1. A liturgical candlestick held beside a Latin Catholic bishop or other prelate.

    Additionally, since the seminarians had to serve at Masses at various times for monsignors or bishops in the different seminary crypt chapels, they had to learn how to be a bugia-bearer.

    2010, Richard L. Rotelli, “Seminary Years: 1962 – 1963”, in “Let Me Be a Light”: The Faith Journey of Father Ron Lawson, West Conshohocken, Pa.: Infinity Publishing, →ISBN, pages 149–150
    2 more examples

    The Bishop having given his blessing to the Subdeacon, reads the Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia, Prose, and Gospel, after having said with joined hands the Munda cor meum, &c., and Dominus vobiscum: the book is supported by the Clerk, and the bugia held as usual.

    1853, J[ohn] D[uncan] Hilarius Dale, “Solemn Mass Sung by a Bishop in His Own Diocese”, in Ceremonial According to the Roman Rite. […] With the Pontifical Offices of a Bishop in His Own Diocese, Compiled from the “Cæremoniale Episcoporum.” […], London: Charles Dolman, […], →OCLC, article IV (The Pontifical Mass), pages 112–113

    So, anyway, seeing the procession of young women with lighted phones in a darkened stairwell reminded me of all those bugia bearers bearing bugias. I hope they in that stairwell were and are as attentive to eternal truths as were those earliest prelates who prayed by the light from the bugia-borne candle.

    2014, William C. Graham, “Bugia Bearers for the New Age”, in 100 Days Closer to Christ, Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, →ISBN, page 35

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchchandelle de Bougie
  2. Medieval Latincandēla Bugiae
  3. New Latinbugia
  4. Englishbugia

From New Latin bugia, from Medieval Latin candēla Bugiae, candēla dē Bugia (“candle from Bejaia (a seaport town in northeastern Algeria from which they were exported)”), a calque of Middle French chandelle de Bougie. Doublet of bougie.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

bugia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bugia

MLA

“bugia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bugia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bugia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bugia.

Source: bugia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.