Forms: α. 4–6 tryacle, 4–7 triacle, 5 tryacall, -cul, -kylle, -kell, 6 tri-, tryakle, tryackill, 7 triackle, -akcle; β. 5 tracle, treakill, -ylle, 6 treakil, 6–7 treakle, 4– treacle; γ. dial. 9 threeakle, treycle, etc., Sc. trykle. [ME. trya·cle, tria·cle, a. OF. triacle (a. 1200 in Godef., Compl., s.v. Theriaque), beside tiriacle (1460), teracle (15th c.): = Prov. triacla, Sp., It. triaca, Pg. triaga, popular forms for Pr. tiriaca, Sp. teriaca, Pg. theriaga, It. teriaca, repr. a pop. late L. *triaca for thēriaca:—Gr. θηριακή antidote against a venomous bite: see THERLAC, THERIACLE. The sense development in Eng. has proceeded further than in the Romanic langs.]
I. Original sense: chiefly Obs.
† 1. Old Pharm. A medicinal compound, orig. a kind of salve, composed of many ingredients, formerly in repute as an alexipharmic against and antidote to venomous bites, poisons generally, and malignant diseases. Cf. THERIAC, THERIACLE. Obs.
As to its alleged composition, see THERIACLE.
1340. Ayenb., 17. Vor-zoþe he is ine grat peril to huam alle triacle went in to uenym.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. Prol., 28. I almoost haue caught a Cardynacle By corpus bones but I haue triacle [v.r. treacle].
1390. Earl Derby’s Exp. (Camden), 12. Pro factura unius pixidis de argento pro treacle imponendo.
a. 1400. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), III. xix. This oynement is precyous … for it is tryacle made of venym to destroy venym.
c. 1425. St. Mary of Oignies, I. ix., in Anglia, VIII. 143. Hee … ȝaf hym firste tryacul, þat hee myghte þe more priuely bringe in after venym.
1483. Cath. Angl., 392/1. Treakylle (A. Tryakylle), tiriaca.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. viii. 22. I am heuy and abashed, for there is no more Triacle at Galaad.
1545. J. Heywood, Four P. P., Plays (1905), 46. Richer is one box of this triacle Than all thy relics that do no miracle.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., II. 315. A sixth of Cordials and Elixars prates; And some of Treacles, and of Mithridates.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Wks. (1687), 18. Do study Salve and Triacle.
1693. Sir T. P. Blount, Nat. Hist., 348. The chief Use of Vipers is for the making of Treacle.
1804. Lond. Med. & Phys. Jrnl., XII. 139. His anti-venereal treacle, well-known for curing the venereal disease, rheumatism, scurvy, old-standing sores, and breaking out of the skin.
† b. transf. Anything to which alexipharmic or antidotal virtue is ascribed; a sovereign remedy.
1544. Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1560), L viij b. A nut is called the triacle of fish, shaled and sugred with a litle rose water.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 75. Hearb grace … may well be kept for fiue yeares, and the leaues dryed, for all poysons, and a peculiar Triacle for the poor.
1727. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Garlick, To eat Garlick fasting is the Treacle of the Country People in the time of a Plague.
† c. In the names of particular kinds, with various qualifications, indicating place of origin, etc.; as Treacle of Andromachus = VENICE TREACLE; Treacle of Genoa, Treacle of Flanders, London treacle, Roman treacle.
1479. J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 259. Send me by the next man that comyth fro London ij pottys of tryacle of Jenne,—they shall cost xvjd.
1545. Rates of Customs, c vj b. Tryacle of flaunders the barrell xx s. Tryacle of Jeane the pounde iiii d. Ibid. (1586), F j. Treacle of Flaunders the barrel xl.s.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., I. vii. 25. That ancient, and in all ages well approved Triacle of Andromachus, as also the Mithridate of Damocrates.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1670), II. 213. The Apothecaries shop, where a Lay brother makes excellent Roman Treacle.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., V. III. (1734), 147. London Treacle.… This seems to have been designed as a Succedaneum for the Mithridate, or Venice Treacle, and is that which the Country Apothecaries sell the Farriers under the general Name of Treacle, which many of the latter distinguish from the common Molossus-Treacle, by calling it, The Doctor’s, or the Apothecaries Treacle.
1753. J. Bartlet, Gentl. Farriery, iii. 27. Genoa treacle twelve ounces, oil of anniseed one ounce.
2. fig. Obs. or arch.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., v. 26. Trewe triacle y-told with tonges in trone.
1340. Ayenb., 144. Þe oþer … hatte þe yefþ of pite. Þet is propreliche a dyau and a triacle a-ye alle kueadnesse, and nameliche aye þet uenim of zenne of enuie.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 236. The name of Jhesu! Geyn goostly venyms, holsomest tryacle.
1529. More, Dyaloge, IV. Wks. 273/2. Nowe tourne they the tryacle of holye scrypture quite into poyson.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 22. Let me understand a part how your London triacle hath wrouht against your Cambridg poisun.
1635. Quarles, Embl., V. xi. 42. Thou art the treacle that must make me sound.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. Concl., Wks. 1851, III. 178. With the sovran treacle of sound doctrine … to fortife their hearts against her Hierarchy.
[1883. J. Parker, Tyne Ch., 267. Where is the triacle, the treacle, the balm, that drops its sacred healing on the soul’s leprosy?]
† 3. Entering into the names of plants formerly reputed to have medicinal virtues, as
Churl’s T., Garlic (Allium sativum); Countryman’s T., (a) Garlic; (b) Rue (Ruta graveoleus); (c) Great Valerian (V. officinalis); English T., Water Germander (Teucrium Scordium); Poor Man’s T., (a) Garlic; (b) Hedge Garlic (Alliaria officinalis). Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. x. (Tollem. MS.). Tame garlek … was not with oute cause clepid triacle of cherles [orig. tiriacum rusticorum].
1538. Turner, Libellus, Chamedrys,… anglice Germander aut englysshe tryacle dicitur. Ibid. (1548), Names of Herbes, Camedrys,… in englishe Germander or englishe Triacle.
1551. [see ENGLISH a. 2 b].
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, V. lxxi. 638. Garlyke … is good against all venome & poyson…. Therefore Galen … called it poore mens Treacle.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, App. Churles Treacle is Allium.
1611. Cotgr., Ail, Garlicke, poore-mans Treacle. Ibid., Trissage, Germaunder, English Treacle.
1661. J. Childrey, Brit. Baconica, 23. The Country men in Cornwall are great eaters of Garlick for healths sake, whence they call it there, the Country mans Treacle.
1745–7. T. Short, Med. Brit. (ed. 2), 246. Rue … or the Country Man’s Treacle. Ibid., 295. It [Valeriana officinalis] is called the Countryman’s Treacle.
1866. Treas. Bot., Countryman’s treacle, an old name for Ruta graveolens.
II. 4. The uncrystallized syrup produced in the process of refining sugar; also sometimes extended to the uncrystallizable syrup that drains from raw sugar; = MOLASSES 1. (See Note there.)
1694. Westmacott, Script. Herb. (1695), 6. Good store of Molossus or common Treacle to sweeten it.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Sugar, Sugar of syrop, or treacle…. There are three kinds of syrops that run from sugar…. The Dutch and German refiners first taught the islanders bow to turn their treacle into sugar.
1731. [see MOLASSES 1].
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 84. Few of us could return … to … a roll and treacle.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., viii. They have the brimstone and treacle … in the way of medicine.
1873. F. Hall, Mod. Eng., 128, note. The very marked distinction between molasses and treacle is commonly ignored in America, where the latter is seldom heard.
1902. Greenough & Kittredge, Words, 267. ‘Treacle’ is applied indifferently to the ‘spume of sugar,’ to ‘maple syrup,’ and to ‘molasses.’
b. An inspissated saccharine juice obtained from various trees and plants: see quots.
1731–3. P. Shaw, Chem. Lect., x. (1755), 193. A Kind of Treacle from Malt might be procured in cheap Years, for the Service of the Vinegar-maker, the Brewer, and the Distiller.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Dr. Shaw, in his Essay on Distillery, has endeavoured to bring into use several sorts of Treacles, which … would serve … for the distillation of spirits, or the making of potable liquors. These are the inspissated juices or decoctions of vegetables: Such as the sweet juice of the birch, or sycamore.
1839. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xii. (1879), 256. Palm … Valuable on account of a sort of treacle made from the sap.
1902. [see 4].
c. fig. Something sweet or clogging; esp. complimentary laudation, blandishment; cf. BUTTER 1 f.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 13 July. He began to sweeten the natural acidity of his discourse with the treacle of compliment and commendation.
1819. Keats, Lett., 23 Aug., in Rossetti, Life (1887), 146. I equally dislike the favour of the public, with the love of a woman; they are both a cloying treacle to the wings of independence.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., lxxv. ‘Oh, you nasty, cross old wretch!’ screamed Catherine, passing in a moment from treacle to sharpest vinegar.
III. 5. attrib. and Comb.: in sense 1, as treacle-box, -monger, plaster, -pot, tap; sense 4, as treacle-pad (see quot.), phrase, -pot, -sweet, -well; treacle-like adj.; treacle ale, beer, a light ale or beer brewed from treacle and water; Treacle Bible, a collectors’ name for any of the English versions or editions of the Bible having ‘triacle’ or ‘treacle’ where others have ‘balm,’ as in Jer. viii. 22, etc.; treacle-butter-cake, see quot.; treacle-carrier, treacle-conner, contemptuous terms for an itinerant quack doctor or medical practitioner; treacle-moon, contemptuous for honey-moon; treacle-parkin = PARKIN; treacle-posset, a hot drink made of cider or milk and treacle; treacle-vinegar, treacle-water, a cordial distilled with a spirituous menstruum from Venice treacle, with other drugs and simples. See also TREACLE CLOVER, MUSTARD.
a. 1833. A. Picken, in Casquet of Lit. (1896), V. 195/2. Ye shall taste my wife’s *treacle ale.
1806. Naval Chron., XV. 264. The liquor to which he was most partial was *treacle beer.
1863. Royal Cornwall Gaz., 30 Oct., 6/1. I have heard of a Breeches Bible and a Vinegar Bible; but now a friend tells me there is a *Treacle Bible?
1899. B. Quaritch’s Rough List, No. 193. 40. Cranmer’s Bible … 1569…. This is also a Treacle Bible.
1457. Will of Poole (Somerset Ho.). A siluer *triacle boxe.
1828. Craven Gloss., *Treacle-butter-cake, oat cake spread over with treacle.
1621. Molle, Camerar. Liv. Libr., III. xii. 187. These Mountebanks, *Triacle-carriers, and such other Dog-leaches.
1706. Baynard, in Sir J. Floyer, Hot & Cold Bath., II. 227. One of the Tribe of *Treacle-conners … whether Apothecary or Physician, I can’t tell.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 329. Tar is a reddish-black, *treacle-like liquid.
1411. Close Roll 12 Hen IV., m. 7 d. Henricus Kirtone … *Treacle-monger.
1815. Byron, Lett. to Moore, 2 Feb. The *treacle-moon is over, and I am awake and find myself married.
1906. Daily Chron., 5 Nov., 6/6. Once more the old *‘treacle-pad trick’ has been employed by burglars. Part of the window is smeared with treacle, which is then covered with a sheet of thick brown paper.
1626. Art. agst. Dk. Buckhm., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 352. Strange effects to follow upon the applying of a *Treacle plaister.
1876. Bristowe, The. & Pract. Med. (1878), 627. Frequent sipping of warm milk, barley-water, gruel, or *‘treacle posset.’
1466. Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., II. 293. I send yow … iij. *tracle pottes of Geane.
1769. J. Berridge, Wks. (1864), 444. Like children, always wanting the treacle-pot.
1841. Carlyle, in Froude, Life in Lond., viii. (1884), I. 210. I fell first into sluggish torpor, then into *treacle-sleep, and so lay sound as a stone.
1867. Miss Broughton, Not Wisely, I. 4. That teller of such gall-bitter, such *treacle-sweet truths, your looking-glass.
a. 1500. Piers of Fullham, 228, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 10. Yn tyme therfore tye up yowr *tryacle tappe; Let not to long thy fawset renne.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Theriaca, Treacle water, and *treacle vinegar are found good preservatives against putrid air.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Water, *Treacle-Water … is directed … to be made of green walnuts, rue, carduus, marigold, baum, butter-bur-roots, burdock, angelica, master-wort, water-germander, Venice-treacle, mithridate, canary-vinegar, and lemon-juice, steeped and distilled…. A more simple treacle-water, made from venice treacle, with an equal quantity of brandy and vinegar.
1909. Blackw. Mag., May, 605/1. A University College varies its facial expression about as frequently as the Sphinx and about as violently as a *treacle-well.
