treacle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a pale cane syrup
    golden syrup.
  2. noun writing or music that is excessively sweet and sentimental
    glop; mush; slop.

WordNet

Trea"cle noun
Etymology
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. , fr. of wild or venomous beasts, fr. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. Theriac.
Definitions
  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. ✍ 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.

Webster 1913