cupel

American  

[kyoo-puhl, kyoo-pel] / ˈkju pəl, kjuˈpɛl /

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.

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verb (used with object)

cupeled, cupeling, cupelled, cupelling

1. to heat or refine in a cupel.

cupel British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• cupeler
  noun
• cupellation
  noun
• cupeller
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cupel

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

Example Sentences

The goldsmith not content with the touch-stone and the application of aquafortis, exposed the metal on the cupel with lead and fused it with antimony, but it sustained no loss.

From The Seven Follies of Science [2nd ed.] A popular account of the most famous scientific impossibilities and the attempts which have been made to solve them. by Phin, John

Transfer to a small smooth cupel and place in the muffle.

From A Text-book of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. by Beringer, Cornelius

Finally, the stibium with a little lead added, is melted in the cupel, in which, after all the rest has been consumed by the fire, the silver alone remains.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

Lastly, place it in the cupel, which assay can be carried out in the space of half an hour.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

The button that settles is transferred to the cupel and re-melted.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius