bullion

plural bullions

1. countableuncountableA bulk quantity of precious metal, usually gold or silver, assessed by weight and typically cast as ingots.

   If the mint kept back one per cent, to pay the expense of coinage, it would be against the interest of the holders of bullion to have it coined, until the coin was more valuable than the bullion by at least that fraction.

   1848, John Stuart Mill, chapter VI, in Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. […], volume II, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC, book III (Exchange), page 25

2. countableobsoleteuncountableBase or uncurrent coin.

   And those which eld's strict doom did disallow, / And damn for bullion, go for current now.

   1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, translated by Josuah Sylvester, Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC

3. countableobsoleteuncountableShowy metallic ornament, as of gold, silver, or copper, on bridles, saddles, etc.

   To beholde how it was garnysshyd and bounde, […] The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde; […]

   1523, John Skelton, A ryght delectable tratyse upon a goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC, page 345, lines 1154–1165

4. countableobsoleteuncountableA heavy twisted fringe, made of fine gold or silver wire and used for epaulets; also, any heavy twisted fringe whose cords are prominent.

   The hair was plaited with bullion and red riband, and then wound round the head, something after the fashion of a turban, save that it entirely displayed the forehead.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 257

5. countableuncountableartsThe mark left on a glass piece from its attachment to a punty.

   Synonyms: bullseye

plural Bullions · alternative Bullins

1. A surname.