cupel

Meaning

Noun

A small circular receptacle used in assaying gold or silver with lead.

Verb

To refine or assay using a cupel.

Synonyms

bone-ash cup

refractory pot

purify

test

try refine

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkjuːpəl/

Etymology

Borrowed from French coupelle, from Medieval Latin cūpella, from Latin cūpa (“cask”) + -ella (“-elle: forming feminine diminutives”). Equivalent to cup + -el.