​ALABASTER (from Greek alabastros, or the earlier form, alabastos), a tapering box, made for holding ointment; a rosebud; a measure of capacity, holding 10 ounces of wine or 9 of oil. The word is also applied to the mineral now called granular gypsum, and to any vessel made of it. Alabaster was named from Alabastron (near modern Antinoë), an Egyptian town.

In mineralogy, massive gypsum, either white or delicately shaded.