a black compound of sulphur and silver, lead, or copper used to incise a design on a metal surface
2.
the process of decorating surfaces with niello
3.
a surface or object decorated with niello
verbWord forms: -los, -loing or -loed
4. (transitive)
to decorate or treat with niello
Derived forms
niellist (niˈellist)
noun
Word origin
C19: from Italian from Latin nigellus blackish, from niger black
niello in American English
(niˈɛloʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralniˈelli (niˈɛli) or niˈellos
1.
any of a number of alloys of sulfur with silver, lead, copper, etc., characterized by a deep-black color and used to decorate metallic objects by means of inlay
2.
the process of decorating with niello
3.
something decorated in this way
verb transitiveWord forms: niˈelloed or niˈelloing
4.
to decorate with niello
Derived forms
niellist (niˈellist)
noun
Word origin
It < VL *nigellum < L nigellus, somewhat black, dark < niger, black