Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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}. Note: 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.