'alembic' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-anbīq', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'anbīq' meant 'cup' or 'vessel'.

'al-anbīq' transformed into the Medieval Latin word 'alembicus', and eventually became the modern English word 'alembic'.

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