I. kyü-ˈpel, ˈkyü-pəl noun
Etymology: French coupelle, diminutive of coupe cup, from Late Latin cuppa
Date: 1605
: a small shallow porous cup especially of bone ash used in assaying to separate precious metals from lead
II. transitive verb
( -pelled or -peled ; -pel·ling or -pel·ing )
Date: 1644
: to refine by means of a cupel
• cu·pel·ler noun