noun
- the waxy berries of certain shrubs, especially bayberry, used historically for making candles
Usage: botanical; historical
Examples
- Colonial settlers collected candleberries to make fragrant candles for their homes.
- The bayberry shrub produces small candleberries covered in natural wax.
- Native Americans taught early colonists how to harvest candleberries for candle-making.
- Candleberries were boiled to extract the waxy coating used in traditional candle production.
- The museum displayed tools used for processing candleberries in the 18th century.
- Wild candleberries can still be found growing along coastal areas in New England.