noun, verb — 7 senses
US, UK /ˈtɹiː.kəl/ · NZ /ˈtɹiː.ku/
Etymology From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, both from Late Latin *triaca, *tiriaca, late form of theriaca, ultimately from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ, “antidote”), feminine form of θηριακός (thēriakós, “concerning venomous beasts”), from θήρ (thḗr, “beast”). Doublet of theriacle, equivalent to theriac + -le.
Cloying sentimental speech.
Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences Historical Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences Broadly, Figuratively, Historical, Obsolete Synonym of cure: an all-powerful curative for some particular affliction.
Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences Broadly, Figuratively, Historical, Obsolete Synonym of cure-all: a panacea for all human ailments.
Etymology From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, both from Late Latin *triaca, *tiriaca, late form of theriaca, ultimately from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ, “antidote”), feminine form of θηριακός (thēriakós, “concerning venomous beasts”), from θήρ (thḗr, “beast”). Doublet of theriacle, equivalent to theriac + -le.
To apply treacle to a surface, so as to catch flies or moths, etc.
Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.