Pronunciation: [ɹˈʌʃla͡ɪts] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "rushlights" is a bit tricky. It's pronounced "RUHSH-lights" and its IPA transcription is /ˈrʌʃlaɪts/. It contains the letters "sh" and "ght" that don't reflect the sounds we usually associate with them. The word refers to candles made from rush stems that have been soaked in fat. Nowadays, it's mostly an obsolete term, but it was a popular source of light during the Medieval and Tudor times.
Rushlights refer to a type of simple lighting device that was commonly used in the past, especially during the medieval and early modern period. These lighting tools were crafted by using dried and treated rushes, typically the pithy core of the stem, which were soaked in tallow or other greasy substances to provide fuel for the light.
The process of creating rushlights involved collecting the rushes, stripping them of their leaves and outer layers, and then soaking them in rendered animal fat or other flammable materials. After soaking, the rushes were typically hung to drip dry and harden. Once the rushes had solidified, they were ignited, serving as a simple and portable source of light.
Rushlights were often used in households and rural areas where candles or other forms of illumination were scarce or expensive. They were inexpensive and easy to produce, making them a popular choice among individuals with limited resources. While rushlights produced a dim and flickering light, they were sufficient enough to provide illumination for various tasks such as reading, cooking, or moving about in the dark.
With advancements in technology and the introduction of more effective lighting methods, the use of rushlights gradually declined. However, they still hold historical significance and can be found in museums or recreated in living history demonstrations, offering a glimpse into the lighting practices of the past.
The term "rushlights" has a straightforward etymology. It is derived from the combination of two words: "rush" and "lights".
1. "Rush": This word comes from the Old English word "rysce", which referred to specific types of cord-like plants that grew in wetlands and marshy areas. These plants were commonly used in Europe as a source of light.
2. "Lights": In this context, the term "lights" is a reference to the illumination provided by these rush plants when used as torches or lamps.
Therefore, "rushlights" simply describes the lights that were made by using these dried or processed rush plants as a source of light. They were commonly used in households before the invention of more efficient lighting methods, such as candles.
