cupel

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkjuːp(ə)l/

noun

  • a shallow, porous container in which gold or silver can be refined or assayed by melting with a blast of hot air which oxidizes lead or other base metals.

verb (cupels, cupelling, cupelled; US cupels, cupeling, cupeled)

[with object]
  • assay or refine (a metal) in a cupel: to extract the silver, the Greeks roasted the ore and then cupelled the molten metal

Derivatives

cupellation

Pronunciation: /-ˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

Origin:

early 17th century (as a noun): from French coupelle, diminutive of coupe 'goblet'