Niello Definition

nē-ĕlō
nielli, nielloed, niello, niellos
noun
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.
Webster's New World
Something decorated in this way.
Webster's New World
The process of decorating with niello.
Webster's New World
verb
To decorate with niello.
Webster's New World

Origin of Niello

  • Italian from Medieval Latin nigellum from neuter of Latin nigellus diminutive of niger black nekw-t- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Italian niello, from post-classical Latin nigellum, from Latin nigellus (“blackish").

    From Wiktionary

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