bullion

[bool-yuhn]

noun

1. gold or silver considered in mass rather than in value.

2. gold or silver in the form of bars or ingots.

3. Also called bullion fringe. a thick trimming of cord covered with gold or silver thread, for decorating uniforms.

4. embroidery or lace worked with gold wire or gold or silver cords.

bullion

/ ˈbʊljən /

noun

1. gold or silver in mass

2. gold or silver in the form of bars and ingots, suitable for further processing

3. Also called: bullion fringe. a thick gold or silver wire or fringed cord used as a trimming, as on military uniforms

Other Word Forms

• bullionless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullion¹

1300–50; Middle English: melted mass of gold or silver < Anglo-Latin bulliōn- (stem of bulliō ) in same sense (< Anglo-French bullion mint), literally, a boiling, equivalent to bull ( īre ) to bubble, boil ¹ + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullion¹

C14 (in the sense: melted gold or silver): from Anglo-French: mint, probably from Old French bouillir to boil, from Latin bullīre

Example Sentences

Palmer was found not guilty of conspiring to handle the stolen bullion at an Old Bailey trial in 1987, but the Met Police continued to investigate him.

From BBC

Palmer blew kisses to jurors after they found him not guilty of conspiring to handle stolen gold bullion.

From BBC

The patriarch did so, only to find gold bullion, customer jewelry, decades of savings and other items missing.

From Los Angeles Times

Doe organised a meeting between Sheen and a bullion dealer in Hatton Garden, London's jewellery quarter.

From BBC

On its website, Elemetal says its specialized facilities melt gold sources such as scrap jewelry and impaired bullion to separate impurities and obtain refined gold.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buck 
• currency 
• investment 
• note 
• payment 
• refund 
• reserve 
• security 
• stock 
• supply