Definitions:
a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use

a movable hearth in a reverberating furnace, used for separating gold or silver from lead.

take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially before putting it into widespread use or practice

the shell or integument of some invertebrates and protozoans, especially the chalky shell of a foraminiferan or the tough outer layer of a tunicate.