Treacle

//ˈtɹiː.kəl// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A syrupy byproduct of sugar refining; molasses or golden syrup. Ireland, UK, countable, uncountable

    "Didn’t you see how the cub was ashamed of the thick bread-and-butter? I dare say they’re going to have treacle if they are good."

  2. 2
    writing or music that is excessively sweet and sentimental wordnet
  3. 3
    Cloying sentimental speech. countable, uncountable

    "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."

  4. 4
    a pale cane syrup wordnet
  5. 5
    Sweetheart (from treacle tart). Cockney, countable, slang, uncountable

    "Listen, treacle, this is the last time I'll warn you!"

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote. countable, historical, uncountable

    "CHEWING-BALLS, a kind of balls made of aſafœtida, liver of antimony, bay-wood, juniper-wood, and pellitory of Spain; which being dried in the ſun, and wrapped in a linen-cloth, are tied to the bit of the bridle for the horſe to chew: they create an appetite; and it is ſaid, that balls of Venice treacle may be uſed in the ſame manner with good ſucceſs."

  2. 7
    Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.; Synonym of cure: an all-powerful curative for some particular affliction. broadly, countable, figuratively, historical, obsolete, uncountable
  3. 8
    Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.; Synonym of cure-all: a panacea for all human ailments. broadly, countable, figuratively, historical, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To apply treacle to a surface, so as to catch flies or moths, etc. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, 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.

Etymology 2

From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, 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.

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