ˈcandle-ˌsnuffer
1. An instrument for snuffing candles.
| 1552 Huloet, Candle snuffer, or instrumente to snuffe candelles. 1766 Smollett Trav. xxiii. I. 353 (Jod.) Hardware..such as knives, scissars, and candle-snuffers. |
† 2. An attendant whose duty it is to snuff and attend to candles; spec. in Theatres, the man in charge of the lights, when these were candles.
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 42 ¶3 Two or three shifters of Scenes, with the two Candle-snuffers. 1821 Carlyle in Macm. Mag. XLV. 236 Then shall I no longer play a candlesnuffer's part in the great drama. 1881 Fitzgerald World behind Sc. 17 ‘Not fit to be a candle-snuffer’. When oil lamps took the place of candles, the wicks required constant trimming, and the services of this official continued in requisition. |