Wiktionary

chandelier

English

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An elaborate chandelier
 
Two chandeliers, stacked with fascines. (The image is cut off, there is an unseen third chandelier to the left.)

Etymology

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Borrowed from French chandelier, from Latin candelabrum, from candela (“a candle”). Doublet of candelabrum. See also candle.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪə(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌʃæn.dəˈlɪɚ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

Noun

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chandelier (plural chandeliers)

  1. A branched, often ornate, lighting fixture suspended from the ceiling
    • 1929, M. Barnard Eldershaw, A House Is Built, Chapter VII, Section vi:
      She opened the drawing-room door in trepidation. Would she find Esther drowned with her head in the goldfish bowl, or hanged from the chandelier by her stay-lace?
  2. (auction, often attributive) A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction.
    Synonym: wall
    • 2007, Frank Pope, "Dragon Sea: a true tale of treasure, archeology, and greed off the coast of Vietnam", Harcourt Books, p. 306.
      A mysterious phone bidder was grabbing the pieces that no one else wanted—Mensun suspected this was the auction house "bidding against the chandelier," protecting itself against selling too low.
    • 2010, Don Thompson, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark, Aurum Press Limited, →ISBN:
      The bids are usually real but can be fake or ‘chandelier’ bids (non-existing bids taken ‘off the chandelier’) on behalf of the consignor, or bids left with the auctioneer in advance.
  3. (obsolete, military) A portable frame used to support temporary wooden fences.
    • 1747, James Boswell, The Scots Book, volume 9, page 37:
      Chandelier. A wooden frame, whereon are laid fascines or faggots, to cover the workmen in making approaches.
    • 1994, Todd A. Shallat, Structures in the Stream: Water, Science, and the Rise of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Texas Press, page 32:
      Europeans solved this problem by building a temporary fence with tightly bound sticks ("fascines") stacked into wooden frames ("chandeliers").
  4. (surgery) An endoilluminator used in eye surgery.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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French

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Inherited from Latin candēlābrum, with a change in suffix. Doublet of candélabre.

Noun

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chandelier m (plural chandeliers)

  1. candlestick
  2. chandelier
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Etymology 2

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From chandelle +‎ -ier, or from Medieval Latin candelārius. Compare Catalan candeler, Italian candelaio, Spanish candelero.

Noun

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chandelier m (plural chandeliers)

  1. candlemaker

Further reading

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Spanish

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Noun

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chandelier m (plural chandelieres)

  1. chandelier
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