an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube
a type of mediaeval distillation apparatus used by alchemists and others interested in the refinement and purification of substances and ideas
A distillation head comprising a dome to collect the vapors rising from a boiling substance (generally held in an attached curcubit) and a gutter and beak to channel the condensed vapors into a receiver. Used in preference to a retort for distilling volatile materials.
An apparatus formerly used for distilling, consisting of a gourd shaped container and a cap with a long spout.
(Arabic al-anbiq, "the still") An apparatus used for distilling.
An apparatus formerly used in distilling, consisting of a gourd-shaped vessel containing the substance to be distilled, surmounted by the alembic proper, the beak of which conveyed the vaporous products to a receiver, in which they were condensed. It is now superceded by the "retort" and "wormstill."
One of the oldest vessels used for distillation*, consisting of a wide-mouthed vessel (usually a cucurbit* or a matrass*) containing the substance to be distilled and a capital* (head) in which the vapors are condensed. The capital usually features a neck to facilitate the addition of materials and a beak to convey the vaporous products to a receiver*. While "alembic" strictly refers to the upper part of the apparatus (the capital), it is often used to refer to the whole. See also: Twin alembics*.
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 alembic was developed circa 800 AD by the Arab alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan; its modern descendant (used to produce alcohol) is the pot still.