ormolu

views updated Jun 11 2018

or·mo·lu / ˈôrməˌloō/ • n. a gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc, and sometimes tin, cast into desired shapes and often gilded, used esp. in the 18th century for decorating furniture and making ornaments.

ormolu

views updated Jun 11 2018

ormolu gold leaf, gilded bronze, gold-coloured alloy. XVIII. — F. or moulu ‘ground gold’, i.e. or gold (:— L. aurum), moulu, pp. of moudre :- L. molere grind.