Treacle was once a widely used medicinal remedy believed to protect against poisons. Originally a type of salve, it was renowned for its effectiveness against bites, especially venomous ones, and was even thought to be a cure for cancer. The term "treacle" traces back to the Greek words "theriakos" (meaning related to a wild animal) and "therion" (meaning wild animal). Since wild animals can bite, these terms evolved into "theriake," which means "antidote for a poisonous bite." The Romans adopted "theriake" as "theriaca," which eventually became "triacle" in Middle French and later in Middle English. Today, treacle also refers to molasses or a mixture of molasses and sugar. Figuratively, it describes something excessively sweet, overly sentimental, or cloying.
