alembic

views updated Jun 08 2018

alembic former distilling apparatus. XIV. ME. alambic, alembike — (O)F. alambic — medL. alembicus — Arab. al-'anbīḳ i.e. AL-2, 'anbīḳ still — Gr. ámbix, ambīk- cup, cap of still. Almost superseded by the aphetic limbeck (earlier lembik) from XV to XVII, when the full form again came into vogue.

alembic

views updated May 29 2018

a·lem·bic / əˈlembik/ • n. a distilling apparatus, now obsolete, consisting of a flask and a cap with a long beak.