Probably Arabic 'al-malgham' (an emollient) or Greek 'malagma' (soft mass) — the word itself traveled through alchemy.
A mixture or blend of different things; an alloy of mercury with another metal.
From Medieval Latin 'amalgama,' probably from Arabic 'al-malgham' (an emollient poultice or softening substance), from Greek 'malagma' (a soft mass, poultice), from 'malassein' (to soften), from PIE *mel- (soft, tender, weak). This root connects 'amalgam' to a surprising family: Latin 'mollis' (soft), giving 'mollify,' 'emollient,' 'mollusk' (soft-bodied creature); Old English 'meltan' (to melt, dissolve); 'mild' (from Proto-Germanic *milthjaz, gentle); and 'malt' (softened grain). The alchemical meaning — a mixture of mercury with another metal — dates
The word traveled through alchemy — amalgamation was a key technique for extracting gold using mercury.