The word for today is…

girandole (noun):

1: a radiating and showy composition (such as a cluster of skyrockets fired together)
2: an ornamental branched candlestick
3: a pendant earring usually with three ornaments hanging from a central piece

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : The word girandole can refer to several different things, all of them designed to provoke oohs and aahs. The earliest uses of girandole in English, in the 17th century, referred to a kind of firework, or to something with a radiating pattern like that of a firework, such as a fountain. Such a pattern is reflected in the word’s etymology: girandole can be traced back by way of French and Italian to the Latin word gyrus, meaning “gyre” or “a circular or spiral motion or form.” By the 18th century, girandole was being used for a branched candlestick, perhaps due to its resemblance to the firework. The word’s use for a kind of earring was lit during the 19th century. While pinwheel and Catherine wheel are more often called upon for firework duty today, we note that there’s nothing stopping you from applying the elegant girandole to the impressive displays that light up festive night skies.

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David is a retired surgeon originally from London who came to New Zealand twenty-seven years ago after being delayed in Singapore for thirteen years on leaving the UK. He was coerced into studying Latin...