alembic

Where does the word "alembic" come from? It comes from Arabic al-anbiq, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Alembic’s story begins in Arabic: al-anbiq meant “a distilling vessel.” A distilling apparatus used by Arab alchemists, from Greek ambix (cup). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as alambic. Carried into French alchemical vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as alembic. Chaucer's Canon's Yeoman lists 'alambikes' among an alchemist's equipment, part of the Arabic lab vocabulary that reached English through Latin and French. Today, alembic means an apparatus used for distillation, or something that purifies or transforms.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval al-anbiq "a distilling vessel", a distilling apparatus used by Arab alchemists, from Greek ambix (cup).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval alambic "a distilling apparatus", carried into French alchemical vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s alembic "an apparatus used for distillation", Chaucer's Canon's Yeoman lists 'alambikes' among an alchemist's equipment, part of the Arabic lab vocabulary that reached English through Latin and French.