Category:Treacle

Trea"cle (tre"k'l), n. Etym: [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. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a Beast. Cf. Theriac.]

1. (old med.)

Defn: 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.