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treacle

(trē′kəl)

noun

Obsolete
1. a remedy for poison
2. any effective remedy
Brit.
1. molasses
2. anything very sweet or cloying

Origin: 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

Related Forms:

treacly adjective

See treacle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Cloying speech or sentiment.
Chiefly British Molasses.
A medicinal compound formerly used as an antidote for poison.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English triacle, antidote for poison

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin thēriaca

Origin: , from Greek thēriakē (antidotos), (antidote against) wild animals

Origin: , feminine of thēriakos, of wild animals

Origin: , from thērion

Origin: , diminutive of thēr, beast; see ghwer- in Indo-European roots

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