treacle

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tiriaca, both from Late Latin *triaca, *tiriaca, late form of theriaca, ultimately from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ, antidote), feminine form of θηριακός (thēriakós, concerning venomous beasts), from θήρ (thḗr, beast). Doublet of theriacle, equivalent to theriac +‎ -le.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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A cup of curd with treacle being poured upon it

treacle (countable and uncountable, plural treacles)

  1. (chiefly UK, Ireland) A syrupy byproduct of sugar refining; molasses or golden syrup.
  2. Cloying sentimental speech.
    • 2012 July 22, Frank Rich, “Mayberry R.I.P.”, in New York[1]:
      The public tributes to Griffith were over-the-top in a way his acting never was, spreading treacle from the evening newscasts to the front page of the New York Times.
  3. (Cockney rhyming slang) Sweetheart (from treacle tart).
    Listen, treacle, this is the last time I'll warn you!
  4. (historical, pharmacology) Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
    1. (obsolete, figurative, by extension) Synonym of cure: an all-powerful curative for some particular affliction.
    2. (obsolete, figurative, by extension) Synonym of cure-all: a panacea for all human ailments.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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treacle (third-person singular simple present treacles, present participle treacling, simple past and past participle treacled)

  1. To apply treacle to a surface, so as to catch flies or moths, etc.

Anagrams

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