Meaning
A maker or seller of candles, or a dealer in provisions and general goods.
Description
The word chandler originally described a candle maker, from the French word for candle. By the 18th and 19th centuries the term had broadened to describe dealers in a range of goods. A tallow chandler made candles from animal fat while a wax chandler used beeswax for higher-quality products. A ship's chandler supplied vessels with provisions, rope, tar and other necessities. A corn chandler dealt in grain and fodder. The exact meaning depends on the context in which the term appears.
Also Known As
Tallow Chandler, Wax Chandler, Ship Chandler, Corn Chandler
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
- Apprenticeship Records
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