noun

1. a container made of a substance that can resist great heat, for melting, fusing, or calcining ores, metals, etc.
2. the hollow at the bottom of an ore furnace, where the molten metal collects
3. a severe test or trial

Etymology: ML crucibulum, lamp, crucible, prob. < Gmc, as in OE cruce, pot, jug, MHG kruse, earthen pot (see cruse) + L suffix -ibulum (as in thuribulum, censer), but assoc. by folk etym. with L crux, cross, as if lamp burning before cross