What Does Candle Mean In Slang?

Candle is a slang term that emerged from hip hop and rap culture in the 1990s. It refers to a close friend, specifically someone you would trust with your life or deep secrets. The phrase implies a relationship as close as “keeping the candle lit” for someone.

The term candle comes from the expression “you’re my ace” or “you’re my ace boon”, meaning someone is your best friend. Ace boon was later shortened to “boon” and then eventually evolved into “candle.” It suggests an unbreakable bond and loyalty between friends.

Meaning and Usage

In slang, the term “candle” is used to refer to a handgun or pistol. This usage emerged in the 1920s in the United States, especially in criminal and gang culture.

The term refers to the roughly cylindrical shape and size of a handgun being similar to that of a candle. Additionally, some have theorized the wick of an actual candle burning resembles the barrel of a gun, hence the slang term candle.

The slang usage of “candle” can be seen in rap, hip hop, and gangster rap lyrics. For example, in the 1993 song “Candlelight” by 2Pac, he raps “With my candle, I burn slow” referring to having his handgun.

The term is still used today in slang and lyrics to covertly reference a handgun or pistol.

Origins

The slang term “candle” meaning “gun” first emerged in hip hop lyrics in the 1990s. According to sources, the term was popularized by rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., who used it in songs like “Gimme the Loot” in 1993. The term refers to the shape and size of a gun resembling a candle. Rappers used the slang term to discreetly refer to guns in their lyrics to avoid censorship or getting in trouble with the law.

The term “candle” became more widespread in hip hop as a code word for gun in the 1990s and early 2000s. Rappers like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and others continued using it in their lyrics. Its origins likely come from inner city neighborhoods where hip hop proliferated and the need emerged to have a discreet euphemism for firearms.

Regional Usage

The slang term “candle” is commonly used in certain cities and regions, especially New York City. In New York, “candle” has been a popular slang term since at least the 1990s. It became widely used in hip hop culture and rap lyrics coming out of New York at that time. Rappers and artists from New York, such as The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and A$AP Rocky have used “candle” in their lyrics over the years. The term spread to the broader youth culture in New York City and can still be heard today among teenagers and young adults in the city.

Outside of New York, “candle” is also used in some other major East Coast cities like Philadelphia and Boston. It has permeated the regional youth slang vocabulary in those areas. However, it’s not as universally recognized across the United States. In other parts of the country, the slang meaning of “candle” is more obscure and less frequently used in everyday conversation.

Related Slang Terms

There are many other slang terms used to refer to guns that are related to the slang use of “candle.” Some examples include:

“Steel” – This refers to a handgun or pistol. Like a candle, it is something you can carry around easily.(Source)

“Strap” – Slang for a gun or pistol that is carried on one’s person. Like the flame of a candle, a strap is something you keep at your side.(Source)

“Gat” – A slang term for a gun, especially a pistol. The connection to a candle is that both can be small and portable.(Source)

Many other gun slang terms relate to the idea of a candle as something that can be easily carried, concealed, and pulled out when needed.

Specific Examples

Candle slang is often used in rap lyrics to refer to guns. Here are some examples from popular songs:

In the song “Candlelight Red” by Hot Boys, B.G. raps:
“Candle dem n—– down, make a movie”
(Candle is used to mean shooting someone with a gun.)

2 Chainz uses candle in the song “2 Bullet Chainz” saying:

“Candle on you then I’m ghost like Swayze”
(Referring to shooting someone then disappearing.)

Lil Wayne in the song “Shooter” with Robin Thicke has lyrics that say:

“We hypnotize you, then candle the room”
(Meaning they will hypnotize and shoot up the room with guns.)

As you can see from these examples, candle is often used in rap lyrics as a slang term for shooting or killing someone with a gun.

Meaning Outside of Slang

Outside of slang usage, the word candle simply refers to the wax or tallow object people use to produce light. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a candle can be defined as “something resembling a candle in shape or use,” like a sulfur candle used for fumigation. Cambridge Dictionary also defines a candle as “a stick-shaped piece of wax with a wick (= piece of string) in the middle of it that produces light as it slowly burns.” In its non-slang usage, a candle is literally just a source of light made from wax or tallow with an embedded wick.

Confusion With Other Slang

The slang term “candle” can sometimes be confused with the similar sounding slang word “candy,” which is often used to mean money. While “candle” refers to a marijuana cigarette or joint, “candy” is slang for cash or currency. This confusion likely arises from the similar pronunciation of these two words.

For example, someone might say they need to “get some candy” when they mean they need to get some money. But an unfamiliar listener could mistake this for a reference to getting some marijuana in candle form. The potential mixup highlights the need to pay close attention to context when interpreting slang.

There are some phrases like “easy money” that use both “candy” and “money” together, making the meaning clear. But in isolation, these two slang terms which sound alike but mean very different things could potentially be misconstrued.

Being aware of the precise meaning of slang terms and the possibility for confusion with similarly pronounced words is important for both proper usage and accurate interpretation.

Usage in Pop Culture

Candle slang has made its way into various pop culture mediums like TV shows, movies, and music. For example, in an episode of the hit sitcom Friends, Chandler says to Rachel “You’re such a candle” to jokingly call her out for being overly sensitive. The song “That’s My Candle” by the pop band 5 Seconds of Summer also uses candle as a term of endearment for a significant other. Some other instances of candle slang being used in pop culture include:

• In the movie Mean Girls, Regina George dismissively calls another girl “such a candle.”
• The reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians showed Kim Kardashian referring to her sister Kourtney as “a total candle” when annoyed with her behavior.
• Rapper Drake uses the lyric “I need a candle, yeah, you’re my candle” in his hit song “Hotline Bling” to refer to someone he cares for deeply.

As these examples show, candle slang has become ingrained into mainstream pop culture across different mediums, allowing it to gain traction and familiarity among wider audiences.

Conclusion

In summary, the slang term “candle” refers to a gun, and specifically a handgun or pistol. It originated in 1990s hip hop culture and rap music, especially on the east coast, as a way to covertly reference carrying or using firearms. While not universally known, “candle” remains a popular slang term in hip hop and rap, often used in songs and lyrics boasting about being armed and prepared to use violence. The metaphor of a candle being carried under clothing visualizes a concealed pistol. As hip hop permeated mainstream culture, “candle” became known beyond just rap fans familiar with slang. It continues to appear in lyrics and pop culture works focused on urban crime and street life. Though not as widely used today, “candle” still conjures imagery of rappers and criminals carrying hidden guns, cementing its lasting place in hip hop lexicon.