courting candles

A form of courting candle — A coil-shaped candle, or a cylindrical candle placed inside of a spiral metal candleholder, historically used to limit the length of a suitor's visit during courtship. When the candle burned down to a certain adjustable point, it signaled that the suitor’s time was up and they were expected to leave.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of courting candle
Cite this entry
APA

courting candles. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/courting%20candles

MLA

“courting candles.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/courting%20candles. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “courting candles,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/courting%20candles.

Source: courting candles on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.