The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Theriac \The"ri*ac\, Theriaca \The*ri"a*ca\, n. [L. theriaca an
antidote against the bite of serpents, Gr. ?: cf. F.
th['e]riaque. See Treacle.]
1. (Old Med.) An ancient composition esteemed efficacious
against the effects of poison; especially, a certain
compound of sixty-four drugs, prepared, pulverized, and
reduced by means of honey to an electuary; -- called also
theriaca Andromachi, and Venice treacle.
[1913 Webster]
2. Treacle; molasses. --British Pharm.
[1913 Webster] Theriac
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Treacle \Trea"cle\ (tr[=e]"k'l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign
remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. th['e]riaque (cf. Pr.
triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an
antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. ?, fr. ?
of wild or venomous beasts, fr. qhri`on a beast, a wild
beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. Theriac.]
1. (Old Med.) A remedy against poison. See Theriac, 1.
[1913 Webster]
We kill the viper, and make treacle of him. --Jer.
Taylor.
[1913 Webster]
2. A sovereign remedy; a cure. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Christ which is to every harm treacle. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
3. Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which
drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also
called sugarhouse molasses.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In the United States molasses is the common name; in
England, treacle.
[1913 Webster]
4. A saccharine fluid, consisting of the inspissated juices
or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the
birch, sycamore, and the like.
[1913 Webster]
Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of
the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the Erysimum
cheiranthoides, which was formerly used as an ingredient
in Venice treacle, or theriac.
Treacle water, a compound cordial prepared in different
ways from a variety of ingredients, as hartshorn, roots of
various plants, flowers, juices of plants, wines, etc.,
distilled or digested with Venice treacle. It was formerly
regarded as a medicine of great virtue. --Nares.
Venice treacle. (Old Med.) Same as Theriac, 1.
[1913 Webster]