See Also: cupel(dictionary)

cupel (iou)



cupel noun & verb. Also coppel. E17.
[French coupelle dim. of coupe CUP noun: see -EL2.]
A. noun. A shallow vessel made of a refractory material which absorbs impurities when gold or silver is melted in it. E17.
fig.: Disraeli Money is to be the cupel of their worth.
b. verb trans. Infl. -ll-, -l-. Assay or refine in a cupel; subject to cupellation. M17.
cupe'llation noun assaying or refining using a cupel; separation of silver from lead in this way: L17.