Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a furnace that feeds itself so as to maintain a uniform temperature;
used by alchemists;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Athanor \Ath"a*nor\, n. [F., fr. Ar. at-tann[=u]r, fr. Heb.
tann[=u]r an oven or furnace.]
A digesting furnace, formerly used by alchemists. It was so
constructed as to maintain uniform and durable heat.
--Chambers.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
athanor
n 1: a furnace that feeds itself so as to maintain a uniform
temperature; used by alchemists