ormolu

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   gilt bronze or brass, especially mercury-gilded decorative mounts used on fine European furniture, clocks, and ornaments

   The cabinet's dark veneer was edged with elaborate ormolu.

2. 2
   adj

   made of or decorated with gilt bronze or brass

   An ormolu clock stood between two porcelain vases.

From French or moulu, literally 'ground gold.' In traditional mercury gilding, powdered gold and mercury were applied to bronze and heated so the mercury evaporated, leaving a gold surface. English fused the French phrase into ormolu.

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