molasses
nounUS /məˈlæsɪz/ · UK /məʊˈlasɪz/
Etymology From Portuguese melaços or Spanish melazos, from Late Latin mellacium (“must, honey-sweet thing”), from mel (“honey”) + -āceus (“-aceous”) + -ium, q.v. Some alternative forms derived or influenced by Spanish melaza and French mélasse, conjectured to derive from unattested Late Latin mellacea, from mel + -ācea.
Usually A thick, sweet syrup drained from sugarcane, especially (Canada, US) the still thicker and sweeter syrup produced by boiling down raw molasses.
- Well, we had our breakfast of ship's bread and molasses, washed down with cannikins of something liquid - but not lovely.1907 February 2, The Chronicle, Adelaide, page 50, column 2:
- When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose. And the queerer the cure for those ailings the bigger the attraction. A place like the Right Livers' Rest was bound to draw freaks, same as molasses draws flies.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
US, Usually Any similarly thick and sweet syrup produced by boiling down fruit juices, tree saps, etc., especially concentrated maple syrup.
- Boiled some cornstalk juice into molasses.1777 Sept. 13, Manessah Cutler, Journal, s.v.
Figuratively, Usually Anything considered figuratively sweet, especially sweet words.
- He really poured on the molasses, charming his audience and changing more than a few votes.
- ‘You're the cutest thing here,’ whispered Clyde, hugging her fondly. ‘Gee, but you can pour on the molasses, kid, when you want to,’ she called out loud.1925, Theodore Dreiser, An American Tragedy, volume I, page 127:
1 more example
- ...the mournful molasses of his prose...1972 Nov. 26, New York Times Book Review, p. 1
Figuratively, Usually Something which moves or works extremely slowly.
- Though faster than typing, the daisy wheel is molasses compared to dot matrix printers.1990, Norman Schreiber, Your Home Office, New York, N.Y.: Perennial Library, →ISBN, page 91:
- Of course, time was molasses in the cold months that bracketed that very long year; time was monotony. When all days are the same, memory caves in on itself.2022, Julia Glass, Vigil Harbor, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, page 161:
1 more example
- It's worthwhile starting with the lowest-tier plan from your provider. If your internet is molasses, then you might consider an upgrade.2023 March 3, Shira Ovide, “Four mistakes you’re making that slow down your internet”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Mar 2023:
- Synonyms
- long sweetening, treacle, theriac, sorghum syrup, cane syrup, sugar and honey
- Derived terms
40 terms
like molasses, like molasses in January, maple molasses, molasses acid, molasses ale, molasses barrel, molasses beer, molasses bird, molasses brandy, molasses cake, molasses candy, molasses cane, molasses cask, molasses cistern, molasses cookie, molasses face, molasses gate, molasses gingerbread, molasses grass, molasses hogshead, molasses house, molasses jug, molasseslike, molasses rum, molasses scone, molasses settlings, molasses spirit, molasses taffy, molasses tank, molasses tierce, molassied, molassy, pomegranate molasses, slow as molasses, slow as molasses in January, slower than molasses, slower than molasses in January, sorghum molasses, sugar-house molasses, thick as molasses- Hyponyms
- maple syrup