"kind of stand used to support lamps or candles," 1811, from Latin candelabrum, which meant "candlestick," from candela "a light, torch, candle made of tallow or wax" (see candle). Old English had candeltreow "candle-tree" in same sense. The word was borrowed earlier (late 14c.) from Old French as chaundelabre with the Latin sense. Candelabra is the Latin plural.
