bullion

[ bool-yuhn ]

noun

1. gold or silver considered in mass rather than in value.
2. gold or silver in the form of bars or ingots.
3. Also called bullion fringe. a thick trimming of cord covered with gold or silver thread, for decorating uniforms.
4. embroidery or lace worked with gold wire or gold or silver cords.

bullion

/ ˈbʊljən /

noun

1. gold or silver in mass
2. gold or silver in the form of bars and ingots, suitable for further processing
3. Also calledbullion fringe a thick gold or silver wire or fringed cord used as a trimming, as on military uniforms

Other Words From

• bul·lion·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullion¹

1300–50; Middle English: melted mass of gold or silver < Anglo-Latin bulliōn- (stem of bulliō ) in same sense (< Anglo-French bullion mint), literally, a boiling, equivalent to bull ( īre ) to bubble, boil ¹ + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullion¹

C14 (in the sense: melted gold or silver): from Anglo-French: mint, probably from Old French bouillir to boil, from Latin bullīre

Example Sentences

Another significant trend of the 2021 recovery: Central banks began racking up gold bullion in droves as a hedge against the U.S. dollar, whose home government dithered on raising interest rates even as inflation started becoming an issue.

From Slate

The money was then allegedly used to purchase gold from reputable bullion suppliers.

From BBC

It was carrying more than 60 chests of silver bullion that have never been found.

From BBC

Some large plaques also pay tribute to historic events such as the last stagecoach robbery in Kern County in 1869, in which a gunman made off with $1,700 in coinage and gold bullion.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the bullion was presented as evidence.

From BBC

Related Words

• buck
• currency
• investment
• note
• payment
• refund
• reserve
• security
• stock
• supply