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.

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Roman candle British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of Roman candle

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Roman candle

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

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

But in penman Robert Hurford’s hands, H explodes like a Roman candle in ink.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 5, 2017

Otis had barely finished speaking when Percy’s missile-launching contraption spit out one last sphere of Roman candle fire.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan