Etymology: Apparently ultimately < classical Latin amphora amphora n., although some details of the borrowing are uncertain. Similar or shared borrowing is shown by forms in other Germanic languages, as Old Dutch heimer (in an isolated attestation in a Latin context; Middle Dutch ēmer , eimer , emmer , Dutch emmer , (now regional) eemer ), Old Saxon ēmbar , ēmber , emmar (Middle Low German emmer ; > Old Swedish ämbar (Swedish ämbar ), Danish ember ), Old High German eimbar (Middle High German eimber , eimer , German Eimer ), denoting various vessels for holding liquids or dry goods, and also a measure of capacity for liquids or dry goods. Early currency of the word in West Germanic may also be indicated by the attestation of the similarly formed derivative nouns Old English embrin (with i-mutation) and late Old High German eimberī , eimberīn , both denoting a vessel or a measure of capacity (compare -en suffix¹). The reflex of a medial consonant -b- shown by the word in English and the other Germanic languages is perhaps to be explained by borrowing of a Proto-Romance reflex of the Latin noun, in which the plosive -p- of the post-classical Latin variant ampora (7th cent. in the Appendix Probi) had been voiced; compare Occitan ambra large glass bottle used to macerate aromatic herbs in wine or vinegar. However, the history of the word in the Germanic languages apparently also shows folk-etymological reinterpretation and alteration. The second syllable probably shows the influence of bear v.¹ or its Germanic base and the word may have been interpreted as a derived noun in the sense ‘carrier’, and hence ‘vessel’.In the continental West Germanic languages, the first syllable apparently also shows alteration after the Germanic base of one n. or its reflexes. This seems to reflect the historical development by which the double-handled Roman amphora was superseded by a single-handled vessel, such as a bucket, as the usual vessel for holding and carrying liquid and dry goods. However, the initial vowel of Old English amber is short and there is no evidence for such an alteration underlying the earlier history of the English word. An unaltered continental West Germanic form appears to be shown by Old High German ampri (with different stem class: ja- stem). For further discussion see H. Beck in J. Hoops's Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde (ed. 2, 1986) VI. 582–3. Compare also post-classical Latin ambra measure of capacity for liquids or dry goods, especially salt (frequently from 11th cent. in British sources; < Old English). Continuing use of the Latin word in the 13th cent. appears to imply currency of the English word in sense 3 in the Middle English period; e.g. quot. 1872 refers to post-classical Latin use in 1280 as a measure of salt equivalent to four bushels according to the London standard.

Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman aumbre, aunbre, awbre, Anglo-Norman and Middle French ambre (French ambre ) ambergris (c1200 in Old French; now also more fully ambre gris ambergris n.), fossil resin (1305 or earlier in Anglo-Norman; the modern name is either ambre jaune (1553), literally ‘yellow amber’, or succin succin n.) < Arabic ʿanbar (also ʿambar ) ambergris, (in ʿanbar sā'il , literally ‘fluid amber’) liquidambar, probably via post-classical Latin ambar , ambare , ambra , etc. (see below); and partly (ii) < post-classical Latin amber, ambra, ambre, ambrum (also ambar , ambare ) ambergris (9th cent.; 13th cent. in British sources), fossil resin, liquidambar (both from 13th cent. in British sources) < Arabic ʿanbar , ʿambar ambergris, liquidambar. Compare ambergris n., lamber n.¹Further etymology. Although it has sometimes been suggested that Arabic ʿanbar is a loanword from another language, the supposed donor language is unclear, and it is more likely that it is an original Arabic word. Parallels in other European languages. The Arabic word was also borrowed into other European languages, in most cases via post-classical Latin. Compare Old Occitan ambre , ambra ambergris (13th cent.), Catalan ambre (14th cent.; now denoting only the fossil resin), Spanish ámbar (1250 denoting ambergris, 1483 (as †ánbar ) denoting fossil resin; also †ambra ), Portuguese âmbar , denoting both ambergris and fossil resin (15th cent.; 1256 as †alambar with prefixed Arabic definite article, denoting ambergris; now usually âmbar-amarelo , lit. ‘yellow amber’, denoting fossil resin, and âmbar-gris , lit. ‘grey amber’, denoting ambergris), Italian ambra fossil resin (13th cent.; the word for ‘ambergris’ is ambra grigia : see ambergris n.). Compare also Middle Dutch emmer ambergris, (as first element of the compound ammersteen ) ammer fossil resin (Dutch amber , now chiefly in the sense ‘ambergris’, the usual word for fossil resin being barnsteen : see brimstone n.), Middle Low German amber , ammer ambergris, also denoting fossil resin, Middle High German amber , āmer ambergris (early modern German amber , ambra , ammer , German Ambra , (now rare) Amber also in the senses ‘fossil resin’ and (occasionally) ‘liquidambar’; the usual modern German word for fossil resin is Bernstein : see brimstone n.). Semantic history and specific senses. The motivation for the application to ambergris (see branch A. II.), already present in Arabic, is probably the fact that both substances were commonly found washed up in rounded lumps on beaches. In early examples it is often difficult to be certain which of the two senses is intended. In sense A. 7 short for amber light n. In sense A. 9 by analogy with use of classical Latin ēlectrum electrum n. in the meanings ‘amber’ and ‘alloy of gold and silver’; compare Middle French, French †ambre (1590 (in the passage translated in quot. 1601) in this sense, which appears to be rare, and is not recorded in dictionaries of the language). With use as adjective compare Anglo-Norman ambre amber-coloured (15th cent. or earlier), and also French ambré (see ambered adj.).

Etymology: Apparently a variant of aumbry n. (compare δ. forms at that entry, and also French armoire and Old French, Middle French armaire, cited at that entry).

Etymology: < amber n.² Compare ambered adj.Compare French ambrer to flavour or perfume (something) with ambergris (1651), to make (something) amber-coloured (1872 or earlier).