Trea·cle n.
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 Erysimum 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.
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