Treacle

Treacle
Treacle Trea"cle (tr[=e]"k'l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. th['e]riaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. ?, fr. ? of wild or venomous beasts, fr. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. {Theriac}.] 1. (Old Med.) A remedy against poison. See {Theriac}, 1. [1913 Webster]

We kill the viper, and make treacle of him. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

2. A sovereign remedy; a cure. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Christ which is to every harm treacle. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

3. Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also called {sugarhouse molasses}. [1913 Webster]

Note: In the United States molasses is the common name; in England, treacle. [1913 Webster]

4. A saccharine fluid, consisting of the inspissated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the birch, sycamore, and the like. [1913 Webster]

{Treacle mustard} (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus {Erysimum}, especially the {Erysimum cheiranthoides}, which was formerly used as an ingredient in Venice treacle, or theriac.

{Treacle water}, a compound cordial prepared in different ways from a variety of ingredients, as hartshorn, roots of various plants, flowers, juices of plants, wines, etc., distilled or digested with Venice treacle. It was formerly regarded as a medicine of great virtue. --Nares.

{Venice treacle}. (Old Med.) Same as {Theriac}, 1. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Treacle — is a thick, dark sugar syrup produced during raw sugarcane refiningOxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, 1989.] , used chiefly in cooking as a form of sweetener. It has a distinctively strong flavour, slightly bitter, and a richer colour… …   Wikipedia

  • treacle — (n.) mid 14c., medicinal compound, antidote for poison, from O.Fr. triacle antidote (c.1200), from V.L. *triacula, from L. theriaca, from Gk. theriake (antidotos) antidote for poisonous wild animals, from fem. of theriakos of a wild animal, from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • treacle — ► NOUN chiefly Brit. 1) molasses. 2) golden syrup. DERIVATIVES treacly adjective. ORIGIN originally referring to an antidote against venom: from Greek th riak antidote against venom , from th rion wild beast …   English terms dictionary

  • treacle — [trē′kəl] n. [ME triacle < OFr < L theriaca, antidote for poison < Gr ( antidotos) thēriakē, (remedy) for bites of venomous beasts < thērion, wild beast, dim. of thēr: see FIERCE] 1. Obs. a) a remedy for poison b) any effective remedy …   English World dictionary

  • Treacle — A medicinal compound once in wide use as an antidote to poisons. Treacle was a kind of salve. It was reputed to be a remedy against venomous bites in particular and against poisons in general. It also came to be considered a cure for cancer. The… …   Medical dictionary

  • treacle — trea|cle [ˈtri:kəl] n [U] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: triacle, from Latin theriaca, from Greek theriake cure for a poisonous bite , from therion wild animal ] 1.) BrE a thick sweet black sticky liquid that is obtained from the sugar… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • treacle — noun 1》 Brit. molasses.     ↘golden syrup. 2》 cloying sentimentality or flattery. Derivatives treacly adjective Word History When treacle entered English in the Middle Ages it meant antidote against poison, venomous bites, and disease : it came… …   English new terms dictionary

  • treacle — treacly /tree klee/, adj. /tree keuhl/, n. 1. contrived or unrestrained sentimentality: a movie plot of the most shameless treacle. 2. Brit. a. molasses, esp. that which is drained from the vats used in sugar refining. b. Also called golden syrup …   Universalium

  • treacle — noun Treacle is used before these nouns: ↑tart …   Collocations dictionary

  • treacle — [14] Treacle is etymologically an ‘antidote to the bite of wild animals’. The word comes via Old French triacle and Latin thēriaca from Greek thēriaké. This was short for antídotos thēriaké ‘antidote to poisonous animals’, thēriaké being a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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