'alambique' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-anbīq', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'anbīq' meant 'still'.

'al-anbīq' transformed into the Old French word 'alambic', and eventually became the modern English word 'alambique'.

Initially, it meant 'a still for distillation', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.