Treacle

Trea′cle (trē′k'l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. thériaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. θηριακή, fr. θηριακός of wild or venomous beasts, fr. θηρίον a beast, a wild beast, dim. of θήρ a beast. Cf. Theriac.] 1. (Old Med.) A remedy against poison. See Theriac, 1.

We kill the viper, and make treacle of him. Jer. Taylor.

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

Christ which is to every harm treacle. Chaucer.

3. Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also called sugarhouse molasses.

☞ In the United States molasses is the common name; in England, treacle.

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

Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the E. 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.