noun
bullion
BULL-yun/ˈbʊliən/
Gold or silver in bulk, especially as bars or ingots.
Gold bullion sits in heavy bars inside the secure vault.
Etymology
Billon named a bar of precious metal, connecting bullion with metal in bulk rather than finished coins. Its history also reflects influence from a word meaning “boil,” through the notion of melting.
In context
Gold and silver were looted en masse, melted down into bullion to fill the coffers of the Spanish crown.
More examples
- The shipment contained silver bullion rather than coins.
- The dealer weighed the bullion before quoting a price.
- Investors compared the cost of coins with that of bullion.
Forms
bullion
Similar words
- ingot
- A cast block of metal, which need not be precious metal.