Crucible
Crucible (kru"si*b'l) , noun
[Late Latin crucibulum a hanging lamp, an earthen pot for melting metals (compare Old French croisel, creuseul, sort of lamp, crucible, French creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; compare Old High German krūsul, LG. krusel, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, Dutch kroes cup, crucible, Danish kruus, Swedish krus, English cruse. It was confused with derivatives of Latin crux cross (compare Crosslet), and crucibles were said to have been marked with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring the chemical operation. See Cruse, and compare Cresset.]
1.
A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as metals, ores, etc.
2.
A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal.
3.
A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction.
Collocations (1)
Hessian crucible (Chemistry) , a cheap, brittle, and fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from the place of manufacture.