The twisted string or cord inside a candle that burns and provides the flame; plural of candlewick.
From 'candle' + 'wick,' where 'wick' comes from Old English 'weoce' or 'wice,' likely related to 'weak' (the thin, weak string). Medieval candles were made by dipping rushes in tallow repeatedly.
Candlewick manufacturers discovered something weird: if you braid the wick loosely, the burn is better—which is why candle-makers started using three-ply twisted wicks, and why modern candle science is surprisingly complex.
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