treacle

Where does the word "treacle" come from? It comes from Greek thēriakḗ, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1600s).

Treacle’s story begins in Greek: thēriakḗ meant “antidote.” 'antidote to venomous bites', from thērion 'wild beast'; the physician Galen prepared theriac for Emperor Marcus Aurelius to take daily. By classical, the word had taken hold in Latin as theriaca. A complex remedy of dozens of ingredients, bound with lots of honey. From there it passed into Old French as triacle by 1200s. A cure-all medicine; 'Venice treacle' was a famous imported brand. It reached English by 1600s as treacle. The sweet syrup that carried the medicine gave its name to the syrup left from sugar refining. Today, treacle means thick sticky syrup from refining sugar; cloying sentimentality.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient thēriakḗ "antidote", 'antidote to venomous bites', from thērion 'wild beast'; the physician Galen prepared theriac for Emperor Marcus Aurelius to take daily.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · classical theriaca "antidote", a complex remedy of dozens of ingredients, bound with lots of honey.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · 1200s triacle "medicinal compound", a cure-all medicine; 'Venice treacle' was a famous imported brand.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s treacle "sugar syrup", the sweet syrup that carried the medicine gave its name to the syrup left from sugar refining.