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Origin and history of treacle

treacle(n.)

c. 1300, triacle, a medicinal compound of various ingredients formerly used against infection or as an antidote for poison, especially from the bite of a serpent; from Old French triacle "antidote, cure for snake-bite" (c. 1200), from Vulgar Latin *triacula, from Latin theriaca. This is from Greek thēriakē (antidotos) "(antidote for) poisonous wild animals," from fem. of thēriakos "of a wild animal," from thērion "wild animal," diminutive of thēr (genitive thēros) "wild animal" (from PIE root *ghwer- "wild beast"). Hence, generally, "remedy panacea" (1540s), but the old senses are archaic or obsolete.

The meaning "molasses" is recorded from 1690s, especially of an uncrystallized syrup product in sugar refinery, which is said to be so-called for a resemblance or the supposed medicinal qualities of the refining product. The word was used by 1731 in reference to a saccharine fluid consisting of "inspissated juices or decoctions" (Century Dictionary) of birch or sugar-maple. Figuratively of anything over-sweet or cloyingly sentimental, by 1771.

Related: Treacly "composed of or like treacle, sweet and viscous." A Middle English treacler, triacler (from Old French triaclier) was a seller or maker of remedies.

also from c. 1300

Entries linking to treacle

*ghwer-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "wild beast."

It might form all or part of: baluchitherium; feral; ferine; ferocious; ferocity; fierce; ther-; Theropoda; treacle.

It might also be the source of: Latin ferus "wild, untamed;" Greek thēr, Old Church Slavonic zveri, Lithuanian žvėris "wild beast."

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