['kju:p(?)l]
¦ noun a shallow, porous container in which gold or silver can be refined or assayed by melting with a blast of hot air which oxidizes lead or other base metals.
¦ verb (cupels, cupelling, cupelled; US cupels, cupeling, cupeled) assay or refine (a metal) in a cupel.
Derivatives
cupellation noun
Origin
C17: from Fr. coupelle, dimin. of coupe 'goblet'.