— treacly /tree"klee/ , adj.
/tree"keuhl/ , n.
1. contrived or unrestrained sentimentality: a movie plot of the most shameless treacle.
2. Brit.
a. molasses, esp. that which is drained from the vats used in sugar refining.
b. Also called golden syrup . a mild mixture of molasses, corn syrup, etc., used in cooking or as a table syrup.
3. Pharm. Obs. any of various medicinal compounds, formerly used as antidotes for poison.
[ 1275-1325; ME, var. of triacle antidote theriaca theriaké, n. use of fem. of theriakós concerning wild beasts, equiv. to therí ( on ) wild beast ( thér wild beast + -ion dim. suffix) + -akos -AC ]