Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CU'CUR-BIT, or CU-CUR'BITE, n. [L. cucurbita, a gourd; It. id.; Fr. cucurbite; from L. curvitas.]

A chimical vessel in the shape of a gourd; but some of them are shallow, with a wide mouth. It may be made of copper, glass, tin or stone ware, and is used in distillation. This vessel, with its head or cover, constitutes the alembic.