cupel

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a small porous bowl made of bone ash used in assaying to separate precious metals from e.g. lead

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

bone-ash cup, refractory pot

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