What does chandelle mean?
Chandelle is an uncommon English noun with two historical senses. Its familiar modern sense is maritime: a rope or line used to raise and lower a boom or yard on a sailing vessel, especially during an operation requiring a controlled descent. In this use, the word belongs to traditional nautical vocabulary and may sound archaic or literary to modern readers. An older sense denotes a candlestick or holder for a candle, though that meaning is now obsolete. The modern term was borrowed from French chandelle, whose literal meaning is “candle.” The word is pronounced with an initial sh sound and a stressed final syllable: shahn-DELL. Although uncommon, chandelle is useful when reading older sailing narratives or specialized maritime texts, where the exact handling of ropes and spars can be important. Its relationship to chandelier is etymological rather than functional: both words derive from the French word for candle, but they refer to unrelated objects.
A rope or line used to raise and lower a boom or yard on a sailing vessel.
"The hands held the chandelle taut as the boom descended."
Chiefly a traditional nautical term, uncommon outside historical or specialist maritime writing.
An obsolete term for a candlestick or candle holder.
"A gilded chandelle held the taper in the old drawing."
This sense is historical and obsolete.
The standard plural is chandelles.
"Two chandelles controlled the movement of the heavy spar."
A chandelle looks like a rope rather than a candle: its name comes from French for “candle,” probably because it was originally associated with lighting or the vertical spar it controlled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does chandelle come from?
Chandelle entered English from French chandelle, meaning “candle.” It was used both for a candlestick and, in nautical terminology, for a rope used to lower a boom or yard. The French word in turn derives from Latin candela, meaning “candle,” which also produced English candle and related forms such as candlestick, candelabrum, and chandelier.
How chandelle is actually used
Chandelle is chiefly a specialist nautical term and is uncommon in modern general prose. The candlestick sense is historical and obsolete. Its pronunciation reflects its French origin, with the final syllable pronounced like “dell.”
Easily confused with chandelle
A chandelier is a hanging light fixture, whereas a chandelle is a nautical rope used to handle a boom or yard.