An alembic is an alchemical still consisting of two retorts connected by a tube. Technically, the alembic is only the upper part (the capital or still-head), while the lower part is the cucurbit, but the word was often used to refer to the entire distillation apparatus.

The word "alembic" has taken on a metaphorical meaning - anything that refines or transmutes, as if by distillation - as in "the alembic of creative thought."

The word, as most alchemical terminology, comes from the Arabic: al-ambiq, "still;" ultimately from the Greek ambix, "cup."

The alembic was developed circa 800 AD by alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan.

See also: distilled beverage for history and background.

Musical Instrument

Alembic is a brand name for a line of high-end electric bass guitars. See Alembic Inc

Video games

In the Bethesda Softworks games Morrowind and Oblivion, Alembics were said to purify the alchemical ingredients used in potion-making. Alchemical potions created with an Alembic would have any negative effects reduced in potency, but have no effect on positive potions.

Alchemical apparatus | Arabic words | Wet chemistry

Alambic | Alambique | Alambic