DCHP-2

candle ice candled ice, candle DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — Outdoors

  a form of prism-shaped melting ice (see Image 1).

  Type: 5. Frequency — Candle ice, which in older sources is sometimes called candle (see the 1796 and 1913 quotations), is slightly more frequent in Canada than in the UK, which suggests a connection through early British explorers. In light of Canada's colder climate, it may be culturally significant in some parts of the country.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "candle ice", which is marked "Cdn", Gage-1, s.v. "candle ice", which is marked "Cdn.", ITP Nelson, s.v. "candle ice".

  See also: needle ice  

  • 1796  (1916)  The rest [of the partly melted ice] we call candles, that is, icicles of fifteen to eighteen inches, or more in length, each distinct from the other; it is thus that nature prepares the ice to be broken up by a strong gale.
  • 1913  Most of the ice in Hudson Straits was rapidly decomposing, smashing in "candles" on contact with the ship.
  • 1924  Harry pulled me out, shouting with anxiety, for "candle" ice is nerve-wracking stuff.
  • 1926  There are miles of open water already, but there is much slush and "candle" ice penned in the wider lakes, and it needs a good breeze, or a heavy rain, to get rid of this. 
  • 1978  Even on Wednesday, Blue still was mostly black with ice. Fortunately, there was enough open water for the Otter splashdown and it noisily taxied the rest of the way to Blue Chalet docks, plowing through 500 yards of candle ice.
  • 1994  A strong southwest wind is whipping up waves that are pushing rafts of candled ice against the shore. 
  • 2001  But it is also the season of candle ice, which falls off melting snow drifts in upright slivers about five inches long, which tinkle on the rocks as they break. 
  • 2015  In short order we will see the ice change into what they call candle ice. First you will see the top layer turn into little square cubes. You can notice that in the footprints that you leave while walking. This is the snow ice that is melting. Then the blue ice under that turns into what looks like a bundle of long tubes or candles. This is mostly just frozen slush at that point. It may hold your weight if it got cold over night. But as soon as the sun hits it things change back to slush in a hurry.