container for separating precious metals: a small container in which precious metals are refined, especially one in which gold and silver are separated from base metals during assaying
transitive verb (past and past participlecu·peled, present participlecu·pel·ing, 3rd person present singularcu·pels)
Definition:
refine metal in cupel: to separate gold or silver from a base metal using a cupel
[Early 17th century. < French coupelle "little cup" < coupe "cup" < late Latin cuppa (see cup)]
