a lem bic, alem bike

[Fr. alambique; Sp. & Port. alambique; Ital. lim bicco; Arab. alan bik: alt he; anbik =a chemical ve el.] A ve el made of gla or copper, which was formerly used for distillation. The lower part of it, shaped like a gourd (in Lat. cucurbit a ), was called in consequence cucurbit; whilst the upper part, which received the steam and condensed it, was ALEMBIC. named the head, and had a beak, which was fitted into the neck of a receiver. The alembic has now, in a large measure, given place to the retort and the worm -still. Viols, croslets, and sub lima tories, Concur bites, and alembikes eeke. Chaucer: C. T., 12,721-2 "This art the Arabian Geber taught, And in alembics, finely wrought, Distilling herbs and flowers Long fellow: Golden Legend, 1