ormolu

UK: /ˈɔːməˌluː/ US: (ôr′mə lo̅o̅′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

or•mo•lu  (ôr′mə lo̅o̅′), n. 

1. Metallurgy Also called mosaic gold. an alloy of copper and zinc used to imitate gold.
2. Furniture, Metallurgy Also called bronze doré, gilt bronze. gilded metal, esp. cast brass or bronze gilded over fire with an amalgam of gold and mercury, used for furniture mounts and ornamental objects.
3. Metallurgy gold or gold powder prepared for use in gilding.

• Latin molere
• Latin aurum) + moulu, past participle of moudre to grind
• French or moulu ground gold, equivalent. to or (
• 1755–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ormolu / ˈɔːməˌluː/ noun

1. a gold-coloured alloy of copper, tin, or zinc used to decorate furniture, mouldings, etc
2. (as modifier)
3. gold prepared to be used for gilding

Etymology: 18th Century: from French or moulu ground gold