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cupel

Pronunciation: /ˈkjuːp(ə)l/

Definition of cupel

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'

cupel in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cupel in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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