nielli

Variant of niello

niello definition

ni·ello (nē el′ō)

noun pl. nielli -·li (-ē) or niellos -·los

  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

Etymology: It < VL *nigellum < L nigellus, somewhat black, dark < niger, black

transitive verb nielloed -·loed, nielloing -·lo·ing

to decorate with niello

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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