I. kyüˈpel, ˈ ̷ ̷ˌpel, ˈ ̷ ̷pəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: French coupelle, diminutive of coupe cup, from Late Latin cuppa — more at cup
1. : a small shallow porous refractory cup especially of bone ash used in assaying to separate precious metals from lead
2. : the hearth of a small furnace used in commercial separation of precious metals from lead
II. transitive verb
( cupeled or cupelled ; cupeled or cupelled ; cupeling or cupelling ; cupels )
Etymology: French coupeller, from coupelle, n.
: to refine by means of a cupel
• cu·pel·er or cu·pel·ler -lə(r) noun -s