candelilla

[ kan-dl-ee-uh ]

noun

1. a shrub, Euphorbia antisyphilitica, of the southwestern United States and Mexico, that is the source of a wax candelilla wax having various commercial uses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of candelilla¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from Latin American Spanish, Spanish: literally, “small candle,” equivalent to candel(a) candle + -illa diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

A man told her he’d found human remains a few months back, while pulling up candelilla plants in the desert.

From MIT Technology Review