niello

Meanings

Noun

• Any of various black metal alloys, made of sulphur with copper, silver or lead, used to create decorative designs on other metals.
• An impression on paper taken from the engraved or incised surface before the niello alloy has been inlaid.

Verb

• To decorate (a surface) using this technique.

Origin

• Borrowed from Italian niello, from Late Latin nigellum, from Latin nigellus ("blackish").