ni|el|lo

ni|el|lo «nee EHL oh», noun, plural -el|li«-EHL ee»,-el|los, verb, -el|loed, -el|lo|ing.

–n.

1. a black alloy of silver, lead, copper, and sulfur, with which engraved designs on silver or other metals are filled in, to produce an ornamental effect.

2. ornamental work done by the application of niello.

3. an example of this.

–v.t.

to inlay with niello.

╂[< Italian niello < Latin nigellus (diminutive) < niger black]