Chemist

Several theories exist regarding the origin of the words chemist and chemistry. One suggestion is that these words have their origins in the old Greek name for Egypt, Khemia (the land of black earth; the Egyptian word kmt = black land); for example, as found in Plutarch. Another suggestion is that the origins are Greek khymatos (that which is poured out) and khein (to pour), from the Proto-Indo-European root gheu (to pour). Yet another suggestion is that the original word was Greek khymeia (the production of pharmaceuticals related to the juices or infusions of plants).
 
Yet another suggestion is that the Greek word khemeioa (the old writings of the Egyptians) leads to the Arabic word al-kimiya, Medieval Latin alkimia, 14th century Old French alchimie, and mid-14th century English alchemy.
 
The Online Etymological Dictionary tells us that “alchemy was the ‘chemistry’ of the Middle Ages and early modern times, involving both occult and natural philosophy and practical chemistry and metallurgy. After around 1600 the strictly scientific sense [became known as] chemistry and alchemy [remained] the pursuit of the transmutation of baser metals into gold, search for the universal solvent and the panacea."
 
By the 1560s, we see the English word chymist (alchemist). The modern spelling, chemist, is from around 1790. Chemist, meaning a person versed in chemistry, is from the 1620s. In Britain, the term ‘chemist’, a dealer in medicinal drugs (rather than ‘druggist’, as in North America), is from 1745.
 
The word chemistry, meaning alchemy, is from around 1600; meaning the scientific study of the composition of material things and the changes they undergo is from 1788.
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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