Roman candle

American  

noun

1. a firework consisting of a tube that sends out a shower of sparks and a succession of balls of fire.

---

Roman candle British  

noun

1. a firework that produces a continuous shower of sparks punctuated by coloured balls of fire

---

Etymology

Origin of Roman candle

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Throwing off sparks like a Roman candle, Jackman turns the character into a romantic hero who just needs the love of a good woman to set him on the straight and narrow.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2022

An aerial Roman candle has 20 grams, reloadable aerial shells, shot from a tube, have 60 grams.

From Washington Times • Apr. 4, 2021

They grimace each time they see a wooden fence in the neighborhood, thinking of it as a Roman candle that could shoot flames onto a nearby home.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2017

“He’s the Roman candle of the piece,” says Soderbergh.

From The Guardian • Aug. 23, 2017

When it’s only about fifteen feet off the ground, I see a boy aiming his Roman candle in the same direction.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day