Forms: 4 alambic, -ik, alembyk, 4–5 -ike, -yke, 4–7 -eke, 7 alimbeck, alembicke, 7–8 -eck, 7–9 -ick, 7– -ic. [a. Fr. alambic, ad. (ultimately) Arab. al-anbīq, i.e., al the + anbīq a still; ad. Gr. ἄμβῑκ-, ἄμβιξ a cup, beaker, the cap of a still. Aphetized as early as 15th c. to lembick, LIMBECK, and the full form scarcely appears again till the 17th.]
1. An apparatus formerly used in distilling, consisting of a cucurbit or gourd-shaped vessel containing the substance to be distilled, surmounted by the head or cap, or alembic proper, the beak of which conveyed the vaporous products to a receiver, in which they were condensed. It is now superseded by the retort and worm-still.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 520. This Troylus in teres gan distille, As licour out of alambic, fulle fast.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Yem. Prol. & T., 241. Concurbites, and alembikes eeke [v.r. Alambike, alembyke, alembeke].
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., II. 33. Destill them in a glasse alembike accordyng to arte.
1612. Woodall, Surgeon’s M., Wks. 1653, 212. Fill your Alimbeck but two third parts of Copperas.
1678. R. R[ussell], Geber, II. I. IV. xiii. 118. The Alembeck and its Cucurbit must be both of Glass.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Earth, Chymists by their Alembick shew us plainly what this Salt is.
1800. Henry, Epit. Chem. (1808), 91. An alembic of pure silver, furnished with a glass head.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., I. 28. In alembics finely wrought, Distilling herbs and flowers.
2. fig.
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife, &c. (1638), 111. Making a brokers Shop his Alembicke, [he] can turn your silkes into gold.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 135. The hot spirit drawn out of the alembick of hell, which in France is now so furiously boiling.
1789. G. White, Selborne (1853), II. xxix. 243. In heavy fogs … trees are perfect alembics.
1814. Scott, Wav., I. ii. 17. The cool and procrastinating alembic of Dyer’s Weekly Letter.
1856. Brimley, Ess., 229. Passed through the alembic of a great poet’s imagination.
