FromMiddle Englishalabastre, fromOld Frenchalabastre, fromLatinalabaster(“box for perfumes or unguents”), fromAncient Greekἀλάβαστρος(alábastros), from earlierἀλάβαστος(alábastos,“vase without handles for storing perfumes”). This may further derive fromEgyptianꜥj-r-bꜣstjt(“vessel of the Egyptian goddessBast”). The Latin suffix-aster is unrelated, but may have influenced the spelling of the borrowing from Ancient Greek (whence a direct loan could have been rendered as*alabastrus).
Nor was the flame dissevered from its ribbon But like a radiant fillet ran along So that fire seemed it behindalabaster.
1915 May 15, “Egyptian Antiquities for Metropolitan”, inThe New York Times[2] (PDF), archived fromthe original on14 September 2015:
One of the striking relics found at the tomb, was a Canopic portrait head of Queen Tii, made entirely ofalabaster except the eyes and eyebrows, which were inlaid lapis lazuli and osidian.
And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having analabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
1980,Colin Thubron,Seafarers: The Venetians, page41:
An enameled miniature of Christ is set in the center of a jeweledalabaster paten, the plate that holds the bread during Communion services.
Safe in theiralabaster chambers Untouched by morning, untouched by noon Sleep the meek members of the resurrection, Rafters of satin, and roof of stone.
Teresa Sokołowska (14.01.2022), “ALABASTR, ALABASTER, *HALABASTER”, inElektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
