Cucurbite

/kjuːˈkɜːrbaɪt/ noun

Definition

A gourd-shaped alchemical or laboratory vessel with a rounded bottom, used for distillation.

Etymology

From Latin cucurbita (gourd) with the suffix -ite sometimes used in naming chemical apparatus and minerals, emphasizing the gourd-like shape.

Kelly Says

When alchemists couldn't afford copper or glass vessels, they literally used gourds to heat and distill—nature provided the technology before humans invented it.

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