Forms: 6–7 chimist, 6–9 chymist, 8– chemist. [16th c. chimist, a. F. chimiste, ad. mod.L. chimista, chymista, used instead of the earlier alchimista, after the latter began to be analysed, and the Arabic al- separated from the rest of the word. Commonly written chemist since c. 1790 (see CHEMIC), though, in sense 4, ‘chymist’ is still occasionally seen.]
† 1. = ALCHEMIST. Obs.
1562. Bulleyn, Bk. Simples, 69 a. The Chymistes or Distillers of Waters.
1576. Baker, Jewell of Health, I. i. 1. The Chymistes doe terme the same both the Chymick and chimistick Arte.
1614. T. Adams, Divell’s Banq., 83. Like a Chimist, he turnes euery thing into siluer.
a. 1613. Harington, Epigr. (1633), II. 33. An Alcumist, That’s all too much. Chimist you might him call And I think it were true, and leave out Al.
c. 1650. Cowley, Reason, Misc. Like senseless Chymists their own wealth destroy, Imaginary gold t’ enjoy.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, II. 269. The starving Chymist in his golden views Supremely blest.
† 2. A physician who followed the method of Paracelsus. (Cf. CHEMIATRIC.) Obs.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. vi. § 1.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Chymist, a Physition following the method of Paracelsus.
3. One versed in the science of chemistry; one who makes chemical investigations.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 98. The industry of the Chymists … discerning by their separations, the Oily, Crude, Pure, Impure, Fine, Gross, Parts of Bodies.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. ii. 43/223. Strange Hermetick Powder,… By skilful Chymist with great cost Extracted from a rotten Post.
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., 16. Things to which these names are given by the chymists.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 249. On the Experiments made by the English Chemist Mayow, towards the End of the seventeenth Century.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 433. Notwithstanding the endeavours of all the most eminent chemists to ascertain the components of muriatic acid, they remain still unknown.
1879. Rutley, Study Rocks, i. 4. If we want further information we can have the materials analysed by a chemist.
4. popularly and commercially. One who deals in medicinal drugs. (Not in U.S.; in Scotland also, druggist is the ordinary term.)
In Great Britain, the use of the terms chemist-and-druggist and pharmaceutical chemist is now regulated by the Pharmacy Acts of 1852, 1868, 1869; a pharmaceutical chemist (pharmaceutist, pharmacist) is a person who has passed the higher examination of the Pharmaceutical Society, which qualifies for membership, under the provisions of section 10 of the act of 1852; a chemist and druggist is a person who has passed the minor examination under the provisions of section 6 of the act of 1868, or who was actually in business when the act of 1868 was passed. No other person than these is legally entitled to use the name chemist (or druggist) in any connection for trading purposes.
[1745. De Foe’s Eng. Tradesm., iv. (1841), I. 26. I have seen … an apothecary turn chemist.]
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 248. May not the … practice have arisen from many apothecaries vending drugs by retail, and so far interfering with the business of the chemist?
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Lord of Thoulouse. The bottles of green and blue light Which you see in a chymist’s shop-window at night.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. xvi. She arrived in the drug-flavoured region of Mincing Lane, with the sensation of having just opened a drawer in a chemist’s shop.
1888. Chemists’ & Druggists’ Diary, 142. Candidates must be either pharmaceutical chemists or chemists and druggists who were in business before the Act of 1868 was passed. Ibid., 102. Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, and Analytical Chemists.
