late 14c., embaumen "to apply balm or ointment; to embalm a corpse," from Old French embaumer, earlier embausmer, "preserve (a corpse) with spices," from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en-(1)) + baume "balm" (see balm) + verbal suffix -er. The -l- inserted in English 1500s in imitation of Latin. Related: Embalmed; embalming.