What is the Latin word for torch?

The usual Latin words for “torch” are fax, taeda, fūnālis; also facula. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“torch” in Latin

faxtorch, firebrand; fireball, comet; cause of ruin, incitement taedaresinous pinewood; a board or plank of pinewood; a torch, particularly if made from resinous pinewood fūnālisconsisting of or attached to a rope or cord faculasmall torch

The English word torch itself goes back to Latin torqueō, through *torca.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

torch

fax (of wood, covered with a combustible material, as fat, oil, wax; especially a burning torch): taeda (a piece of pine or other resinous wood, which serves for giving a light): funale (of tow, covered with a combustible material). A small torch, facula: burning torchs, faces or taedae ardentes; faces collucentes (as giving light): to wave a torch, facem concutere: to light a torch, faces ex ignibus inflammare.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for torch?: The usual Latin words for “torch” are fax, taeda, fūnālis; also facula. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.