cupel

[ kyoo-puhl, kyoo-pel ]

noun

1. a small, cuplike, porous container, usually made of bone ash, used in assaying, as for separating gold and silver from lead.
2. a receptacle or furnace bottom in which silver is refined.

verb (used with object)

, cu·peled, cu·pel·ing or (especially British) cu·pelled, cu·pel·ling.

1. to heat or refine in a cupel.

cupel

/ kjʊˈpɛl; ˈkjuːpəl /

noun

1. a refractory pot in which gold or silver is refined
2. a small porous bowl made of bone ash in which gold and silver are recovered from a lead button during assaying

verb

1. tr to refine (gold or silver) by means of cupellation

Derived Forms

• ˈcupeller, noun

Other Words From

• cu·pel·er [kyoo, -p, uh, -ler], cu·pel·ler [kyoo-, pel, -er], noun
• cupel·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cupel¹

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin cūpella, equivalent to Latin cūp ( a ) tub + -ella diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cupel¹

C17: from French coupelle, diminutive of coupe cup

Example Sentences

Before removing the piston, turn it half-way round upon its axis so as to loosen and smooth the face of the cupel.

From Project Gutenberg

A conveniently sized cupel is 1-1/4 inches in diameter and about 3/4 inch high.

From Project Gutenberg

The cavity of the cupel is about 1/4 inch deep, and something of the shape shown in fig. 5.

From Project Gutenberg

Silver remains after cupellation in flattened elliptical buttons, adhering but only slightly to the cupel.

From Project Gutenberg

Another possible source of loss is the infiltration of small particles of alloy into the cupel.

From Project Gutenberg