treacle

Meanings

Noun

• A syrupy byproduct of sugar refining; molasses or golden syrup.
• Cloying sentimental speech.
• Sweetheart (from treacle tart).
• An antidote for poison; theriac.
• Any all-powerful curative; a general remedy, a cure-all.

Verb

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

Origin

• 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, feminine form of θηριακός, from θήρ. Compare theriac, theriacle.