ormolu Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun brass that looks like gold; used to decorate furniture

WordNet

Or`mo*lu" noun
Etymology
F. or moulu; or gold (L. aurum) + moulu, p. p. of moudre to grind, to mill, L. molere. See Aureate, and Mill.
Definitions
  1. A variety of brass made to resemble gold by the use of less zinc and more copper in its composition than ordinary brass contains. Its golden color is often heightened by means of lacquer of some sort, or by use of acids. Called also mosaic gold.

Webster 1913