the impurities of silver separated from the one in the process of melting ( Proverbs 25:4 ; 26:23 ; Psalms 119:119 ). It is also used to denote the base metal itself, probably before it is smelted, in Isaiah 1:22 Isaiah 1:25 .

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.