Obs. [f. the sb. Cf. OF. lambiquer (16th c.), It. lambiccare.]
1. trans. To treat as in an alembic; to subject to the process of distillation or extraction of essence, etc. Chiefly fig.; esp. to rack or fatigue (the brain) in the effort to extract ideas.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 162. Where the greater doe nothing but limbicke their braines in the Arts of Alchymy and Ballancing.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 50. Wasting my wits, and Limbeking my braines, without drawing any iuice or substance thence at all.
a. 1652. Brome, Songs, etc. (1661), 255. His Patients grow impatient, and the fear Of death, lymbeck’d their bodies into tears.
1661. Feltham, Resolves, Disc. Eccl., ii. 11. (1677), 346. And when he had try’d and Lymbeck’d all, the spirit and Extract comes forth, Vanity, Vexation.
2. To distil or extract (an essence, etc.) as by an alembic.
1598. Florio, Lambicare, to distill, to limbecke.
1648. Earl Westmoreland, Otia Sacra (1879), 139.
| Who brings me to the spring-head, where | |
| Crystall is Lymbeckt all the yeere. |
1657. W. Morice, Coena quasi Κοινὴ, Diat. iii. 140. The quintessence to be limbeck’d and distilled [etc.].
Hence Limbecked ppl. a., Limbecking vbl. sb.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Tobacco Battered, 233. The stench and Stuff Extracted from their limbeckt Lips and Nose.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 18. Metaphysicall Limbeckings.
