cupel
1. cu.pel \kyu:-'pel, 'kyu:-p*l\ n [F coupelle, dim. of coupe cup, fr. LL cuppa] : a small shallow porous cup esp. of bone ash used in assaying to separate precious metals from lead 2. cupel or cu.pel.er \kyu:-'pel-*r, 'kyu:-p*-l*r\ vt or cu.pelled or cu.peled; or cu.pel.ling; or cu.pel.ing : to refine by means of a cupel - cu.pel.ler n